Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Office in 2006, broken down by  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day; what percentage of ordinary written questions were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage of named day questions were answered by the specified date.

Jack Straw: In the 2005-06 Session the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons answered  (a) 188 ordinary written parliamentary questions, 100 per cent. of which were answered within 10 sitting days; and  (b) 71 named day questions, 100 per cent. of which were answered on the specified date.

Political Party Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Leader of the House what responsibilities he has for political party finance reform.

Jack Straw: My responsibilities for political party reform were set out in the Prime Minister's letter to me of 15 May 2006. They are to lead on the reform of party funding arrangements, taking account of Sir Hayden Philips' review, with a view to getting new arrangements in place before the next general election.

Child Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of school-aged children in the world that are not in education.

Gareth Thomas: The primary source of global data on out of school children is the Education for All Global Monitoring Report. The 2007 Global Monitoring Report (GMR); launched on 26 October 2006, estimates that there are around 77 million primary aged children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. The GMR helps track progress on the Universal Primary Education Millennium Development Goal to ensure that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
	Given its emphasis on the enrolment statistics of primary aged children, the GMR does not make a comparable estimate of secondary aged children out of school. It does, however, estimate a global net enrolment ratio in secondary education of 58 per cent. Net enrolment ratio is enrolment of the official age group for a given level of education, expressed as a percentage of the population in that age group.

Clean Water Access

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing to facilitate the creation of public partnership bodies in the water industry in developing countries to improve access to clean water.

Gareth Thomas: In March 2006, the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation announced an action plan which included a call for a global mechanism to promote water operators partnerships. We intend to increase support to various partnership initiatives that support public utilities and we are currently considering how best to do this. We are discussing a number of proposals with potential partners. Previous experience has shown that twinning agreements and capacity building arrangements in the sector can often be ineffective. Our approach to public partnerships should capitalise on this experience and be based on evidence of what works best. In particular, we want to be sure that any new partnerships are set up with the right incentives in place and do not duplicate or undermine the efforts of other established partnership approaches.
	In addition, DFID has supported the International Benchmarking Network for water and sanitation utilities (IBNET) since 2002. This is an initiative of the multi-donor Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) to compile and share performance indicators in order to help improve efficiency.

Indonesia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the Multistakeholder Forestry Programme in Indonesia since 2000; and what plans there are to extend the programme beyond 2006.

Gareth Thomas: The Multistakeholder Forestry Programme (MFP) has worked with civil society and government organisations to broker new relationships between citizens and the state in relation to forest policy-making. DFID has contributed £25 million to this work since 2000. The programme is transforming forest governance in Indonesia, promoting citizens' voice and government accountability, and increasing transparency and participation in policy-making, which is having a strong impact on poverty and forest management.
	The programme ended in December 2006. DFID commissioned a series of independent reviews of its outcomes. These showed considerable impact in reducing poverty and conflict, in securing access to state forest lands by local communities, in improving small enterprises, in reducing illegal logging, and in rebuilding trust and effective government in a fragile state. A portrait of the programme was also written by a British journalist and published in a book entitled "Aid That Works", highlighting many human interest stories and how lives have changed by the improvements in forest governance in Indonesia.
	The programme has built a solid platform for taking forward the new DFID White Paper agenda—engaging in governance reforms in difficult environments, working across Whitehall, and addressing climate change. We are now preparing joint work with the FCO in Indonesia to carry forward this agenda, particularly in addressing the international trade in illegal timber, the stabilisation of local land rights to curb deforestation and illegal logging, and to raise the profile of climate change and the huge contribution to greenhouse gas emissions made by deforestation in Indonesia. Initially this will be supported as part of DFID's £24 million global Forest Governance and Trade programme.

Indonesia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding and resources his Department committed to combat illegal logging in Indonesia in each of the last three financial years; how much has been allocated for each of the next three financial years; how much of that funding and resources  (a) was channelled and  (b) will be channelled (i) bilaterally and (ii) multilaterally; and through which multilateral agencies aid (A) has been and (B) will be channelled.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Indonesia on combating illegal logging, and a wider forest governance reform programme, the Multistakeholder Forestry Programme (MFP). As part of the £25 million bilateral MFP, DFID has spent approximately £2 million per year, over the past three years, on research, advocacy, coordination, media communications, training and policy development to combat illegal logging. While the MFP has ended, DFID's bilateral commitment to combating illegal logging continues under a £24 million global programme on Forest Governance and Trade. We expect to spend over £1 million each year over the next three years from this global programme in Indonesia.
	Through its contributions to the EU, DFID is also contributing to a number of EU-funded projects combating illegal logging in Indonesia. The EU-Illegal Logging Response Centre, the EC Tropical Forest Budget Line, and the EU support to the Asia Regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) process, have all contributed over £2 million per year, and the new EU-Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Support Project will spend just under £2 million per year over the next three years.
	Through its staff and contributions to the World Bank, DFID has also contributed to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-World Bank partnership against illegal logging in Indonesia, and leveraged US$1 million (2006-07) from a Dutch Trust Fund for a Forest Transparency Initiative. Through its contributions to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), DFID has contributed to the work of the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in supporting the Asia Forest Partnership.
	These funds are backed up by the staff that we have in our Policy Division, the DFID Indonesia country office, and seconded to the European Commission office responsible for global forestry support, as well as the work we do across Whitehall in providing a coherent response to this international problem from DFID, DEFRA and FCO.

Infrastructure Projects

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the amount of UK bilateral aid allocated to infrastructure projects in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: Estimated UK bilateral expenditure on infrastructure since 1997 is set out in the following table. These estimates are based on the expenditure allocated to sectors covering infrastructure which include transport and communication, energy, public private partnerships/privatisation, construction, urban management, shelter and housing, water supply and water and sanitation. Some support to infrastructure, for example expenditure on education facilities, will be allocated to an education sector which means the infrastructure element cannot be identified separately and therefore not included in the following figures.
	
		
			   UK bilateral expenditure on infrastructure (£ million) 
			 1996-97 131.1 
			 1997-98 125.6 
			 1998-99 134.7 
			 1999-2000 122.2 
			 2000-01 113.7 
			 2001-02 142.1 
			 2002-03 121.5 
			 2003-04 182.7 
			 2004-05 148.8 
			 2005-06 169.1

Outstanding Debt

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much debt is owed by  (a) low and (b) lower-middle-income country governments to the UK through (i) the CDC group and (ii) his Department, broken down by country;
	(2)  how much debt relief and cancellation in terms of  (a) flow relief and  (b) stock cancellation has been granted by the Government since 2004 on debts of (i) low and (ii) lower middle income countries owed to (A) the CDC group and (B) his Department, broken down by country.

Hilary Benn: The following table shows the debts currently owed by Low Income and Lower Middle Income Countries to the UK through DFID, as well as debt relief and cancellation in terms of flow relief and stock cancellation for these countries. No debt is owed directly by any government to CDC Group plc, which only lends to commercial organisations. However, some loans by CDC to parastatal and quasi-governmental organisations were guaranteed by their governments. Income to CDC and debt relief on these loans is therefore included in the table.
	Debts owed by countries to the World Bank on loans financed by the UK and other then-EEC donors in the 1970s are listed separately. DFID receives payments on these loans from the World Bank. The loans reverted to bilateral status in 2005 and those to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) are being treated in accordance with the UK's 100 per cent. debt relief policies. All payments by HIPCs to the UK since 2000 on these loans will be returned to them when they complete the HIPC Initiative. The balance of the loans will also be cancelled. Payments returned to HIPCs so far are listed as flow relief since 2004, with loans cancelled recorded as stock cancellation. DFID is in the process of returning payments and cancelling our share of these loans to Malawi and Sierra Leone, which recently completed the HIPC Initiative. We are also in the process of returning payments received from Mauritania.
	
		
			  Debts owed and debt relief given to Low Income and Lower Middle Income Countries 
			  £000 
			   Debt owed  Debt relief 
			 World Bank Loans with DFID as a creditor  Flow relief 2003-04 to 2005-06  Stock cancellation 2003-04 to 2005-06  Reimbursements since 2004 on World Bank loans with DFID as a creditor  Stock cancellation since 2004 on World Bank loans with DFID as a creditor 
			  Country  CDC ( 3) DFID   CDC ( 3) DFID  CDC ( 3) DFID   
			  Low Income Countries( 1)  
			 Bangladesh — — 4,701 — — — — — — 
			 Benin(1) — — — — — — — 64 304 
			 Burkina Faso(1) — — — — — — — 168 813 
			 Burundi(2) — — 121 — — — — — — 
			 Cameroon(1) — — — 2,574 — — — — — 
			 Central Africa N. Rep.(2) — — 49 — — — — — — 
			 Comoros(2) — — 71 — — — — — — 
			 Congo, Dem. Rep.(2) — — 1,568 — — — — — — 
			 Congo, Rep.(2) — — 489 — — — — — — 
			 Cote D'Ivoire(2) 12,976 (1)567 — — — — 663 — — 
			 Ethiopia(1) — — — — — — — 204 1,062 
			 Gambia(2) — — 167 — — — — — — 
			 Ghana(1) — — — 4506 1,632 9,050 1,104 121 630 
			 Guinea(2) — — 381 — — — — — — 
			 Guinea-Bissau(2) — — 96 — — — — — — 
			 Haiti(2) — — 592 — — — — — — 
			 India — — 4,913 — — — — — — 
			 Kenya 292 — 1,450 — — — — — — 
			 Laos — — 274 — — — — — — 
			 Lesotho — — 217 — — — — — — 
			 Liberia(2) — — 134 — — — — — — 
			 Madagascar(1) — — — — — — — 203 1,057 
			 Malawi(1) — — — 2,886 — — — — 754 
			 Mali(1) — — — — — — — 211 1,019 
			 Mauritania(1) — — — — — — — — 152 
			 Mozambique(1) — — — — — — 68 — — 
			 Myanmar — — 1,062 — — — — — — 
			 Nepal(2) — — 1,105 — — — — — — 
			 Nicaragua(1) — — — — — — 3 — — 
			 Niger(1) — — — — — — — 38 205 
			 Nigeria — — — — — — 5,000 — — 
			 Pakistan — — 5,672 — — 23,139 — — — 
			 Rwanda(1) — — — — — — — 34 175 
			 Senegal(1) — — — — — — 49 87 413 
			 Sierra Leone(2) — — 293 — — — — — — 
			 Somalia(2) — — 151 — — — — — — 
			 Sudan(2) — — 1,093 — — — — — — 
			 Tanzania(1) — — — — — — — 524 2,302 
			 Togo(2) — — 665 — — — — — — 
			 Uganda(1) — — — — — — — 455 2017 
			 Yemen — — 1,102 — — — — — — 
			 Zambia(1) — — — — 1,154 — 2,154 99 526 
			 Zimbabwe 10,144 8,544 — — — — — — — 
			 Total for low income countries 23,412 9,111 26,276 9,966 2,786 32,189 4,041 2,208 11,429 
			   
			  Lower middle income countries  
			 Colombia — 6
			 Ecuador — 8,067
			 Egypt — (3)112 3,542 — — — 1,218 — — 
			 Guyana(1) — — — — — — 12,106 59 306 
			 Honduras(1) — — — 2,519 186 15,371 93 — — 
			 Indonesia 16,622 — 553 — — — — — — 
			 Jamaica 5,906 (3)13,472 — — — 5,864 9,257 — — 
			 Jordon — (3)7,072 — — — — 5,716 — — 
			 Peru — (3)2,958 — — — — 1,550 — — 
			 Philippines — 483 — — — — — — — 
			 Samoa — — 29 — — — — — — 
			 Solomon Islands — — — — — — 734 — — 
			 Sri Lanka — — 873 — — — — — — 
			 Total for Lower Middle Income countries 22,528 32,170 4,997 2,519 186 21,235 30,674 59 306 
			 (1 )Countries completed the HIPC Initiative and received 100 per cent. debt cancellation from the UK. (2) Countries progressing through HIPC and will receive 100 per cent. debt cancellation when they reach HIPC Completion Point. Those that have passed Decision Point of the HIPC Initiative receive 100 per cent. flow relief (they make no debt service payments). (3) Debt relief has been given on these debts under Retrospective Term Adjustment (RTA) and the Commonwealth Development Initiative (GDI)-payments are cancelled each year as they become due and the countries are not billed.

Outstanding Debt

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been received by the Government from  (a) low and  (b) lower middle income countries on debts owed to (i) the CDC group and (ii) his Department in 2005-06; and how much is expected to be received in each category in 2006-07.

Hilary Benn: No debt is owed directly by any government to CDC Group plc, which only lends to commercial organisations. Some loans by CDC to parastatal and quasi-governmental organisations were guaranteed by their governments, and income to CDC from these loans is recorded in the table. The only income received directly by DFID from a Low Income Country (LIC) in 2005-06 came from Zimbabwe, which has not met the standards of accountability, public financial management and commitment to poverty reduction needed to qualify for debt relief from the UK. No payments are expected from LICs in 2006-07.
	Income to the Government from debts owed to DFID and CDC in 2005-06 and expected in 2006-07 is as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Received in 2005-06  Expected in 2006-07 
			   DFID  CDC  DFID  CDC 
			 Low Income Countries 89 28 0 30 
			 Lower Middle Income Countries 3,298 191 1,117 1,985 
		
	
	In addition, £1.852 million was received by DFID in 2005-06, and £1.883 million is expected in 2006-07 from repayments by countries to the World Bank on loans that were originally funded by the UK and other then EEC creditors in the 1970s. The bulk of these loans were to Low Income Countries. Debts held by Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) are cancelled in full when they reach HIPC Completion Point, with any payments made to the UK since 2000 returned to them. The UK is not currently able to provide debt relief on our share of the loans to non-HIPC Low Income Countries as this requires the agreement of all eight creditors. We are continuing discussions and hope to be able to offer debt relief on these loans soon.

Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to support the United Nations World Food Programme in Somalia to ensure that food reaches  (a) Wajid,  (b) lower Shabelle and  (c) the Middle and Lower Juba regions; and what representations is he making on the resumption of the use of airdrops and helicopters in Somalia.

Hilary Benn: The UK is a major supporter of Word Food Programme (WFP) globally and in Somalia. WFP plans to distribute 114,000mt (metric tonnes) of food aid in Somalia this year, and a significant proportion of this will be in the worst affected areas in southern and central Somalia, such as Middle and Lower Juba. The UK is the second largest contributor after the US to the World Food Programme's (WFP) protracted Relief and Recovery Operation 10191, which runs to 31 March 2007, with US$11.4 million.
	WFP is currently preparing a food aid convoy from Mogadishu to Wajid. A distribution in Middle Shabelle was planned just before the recent fighting, but it remains stalled because of lack of clarity over the security situation in that region. In Middle and Lower Juba there has been some limited food aid distribution in Bualle. There are 1000mt on trucks at Afmadow in Lower Juba, which it is planned will be distributed soon. WFP also has teams in Wajid that are on standby for a return to Kismayo.
	The recent conflict caused restrictions on access to Somalia for relief workers and supplies. However, for most agencies, including WFP, it is proving possible to resume operations, although there have been some problems related to the re-emergence of local militias. The UK continues to take all opportunities to press the authorities on the ground to allow for the re-establishment of humanitarian relief operations in all areas, including the deliveries of WFP food aid and the use of helicopters and aircraft. Much of this operation is funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund to which the UK is the largest single contributor. WFP has adequate supplies for the next five to six months for Somalia.

Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the additional resources provided by the United States to Somalia on the situation in that country; and what steps his Department is taking to support development and peace-keeping efforts in Somalia.

Hilary Benn: I understand that the additional funds pledged by the US for Somalia at the International Contact Group meeting in Nairobi on 5 January— intended for humanitarian, capacity-building support and to help finance the proposed international peace support mission in Somalia—have yet to start disbursement.
	DFID's programme has increased from significantly, to a planned budget of £15.5 million in 2006-07 which is set to rise further to £21 million in 2007-08. Within these amounts we are providing significant amounts of humanitarian relief, assistance to building up the capacity of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), and support to education and other services to the poor.
	In recognition of the changing political situation on the ground, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is in the process of preparing a short term response plan, which will include proposals for support to the TFIs in the coming critical weeks. This is likely to cover proposals for:
	supporting the relocation of the TFIs to Mogadishu;
	rehabilitation of government buildings in Mogadishu;
	immediate technical assistance requirements;
	a process for the re-establishment of regional and local authorities; and
	revenue raising.
	DFID will examine the response plan, once available, and work towards a joint
	approach to it with the EC and other donors.
	We are also examining urgently, with donor partners, how existing donor support to restoring effective policing in parts of Somalia can be extended to southern and central Somalia. This support is being channelled primarily through the UNDP's Rule of Law and Security programme (RoLS), which has been supporting police strengthening in Somaliland, Puntland and Baidoa. The programme has already established police training centres in Armo and Baidoa.

Catering Facilities

John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will discontinue its policy of not releasing details of bookings made by individual hon. Members of catering facilities.

Nick Harvey: It has not been the practice of the House to release details of bookings made by individual hon. Members of catering facilities, whether made for private functions or on behalf of internal or external organisations. The Commission has no plans to change this practice while a complaint relating to this subject is being considered by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Catering Facilities

John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many dinner menus have been printed by the Refreshment Department for hon. Members' private dinners in the last 12 months; and how many copies of such menus have been kept by the Refreshment Department.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department has ordered printed menu cards on behalf of hon. Members for 106 private lunch and dinner events in 2006. No copies are retained by the Refreshment Department.

Electric Vehicles: Safety

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the use of disabled person's mobility scooters; and what recent representations he has received on the use of mobility scooters.

Gillian Merron: The use of mobility scooters is governed by the "Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988", statutory instrument 1988 No.2268.
	Representations have been received from stakeholders on general use, but the vast majority were seeking advice on registration of their vehicles. As registration is the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, such representations have been passed to them for advice and guidance.

Highways Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effects on costs does he expect as a result of the reorganisation of the Major Projects Division of the Highways Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: There will be no immediate effect on costs as a result of the reorganisation of the Major Projects Directorate of the Highways Agency.
	The Highways Agency has redeployed resource within existing staff budgets and numbers to make more effective use of its staff and provide new skills to meet changing business needs.

Liverpool: Transport Links

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of road and rail links to the port of Liverpool.

Stephen Ladyman: The existing trunk road access to the port of Liverpool at Seaforth is provided by the A5036. A study undertaken by the Highways Agency has concluded that journey times on the existing A5036 are not reliable and that this position will get progressively worse overtime.
	The North West Regional Planning Assessment (RPA) for the railway and the Network Rail route utilisation strategies for the North West and Freight assess the current provision and likely future needs for freight on the railways, including the Port of Liverpool. The North West RPA was published in October 2006 and consultation drafts of both route utilisation strategies have been issued.
	However, even taking into account the potential of rail, the Highways Agency believe that the existing road network would be inadequate to cater for the expected growth of the port. They are now developing options for improving road access to the port. It is envisaged that any scheme identified will be funded from the regional funding allocation.

M6

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regard he will have to the Visioning and Backcasting for UK Transport Policy report published in 2005 in relation to his decision-making for the M6 widening proposals between junctions 11A and 19, with particular reference to the policies that will be necessary to meet the Government's targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Stephen Ladyman: The Visioning and Backcasting for UK Transport Policy (VIBAT) study examined a range of policy measures (technological and behavioural) and assessed how they could be effectively combined to achieve a reduction in emissions.
	Whilst this study highlighted a potential range of options available for addressing carbon emissions from transport, it was intended to test a research methodology and to stimulate thinking, not to define Government policy. Its partial analysis did not consider either the costs of measures proposed nor the most cost-effective and practical savings across the whole of the economy. However, many of the policies identified in the report were considered as part of the Climate Change Programme Review, some of which are now being taken forward, such as the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.
	The proposed M6 widening scheme will be assessed—as with all major transport schemes—using the Department's New Approach to Appraisal and Value for Money guidance. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 December 2006,  Official Report, column 735W.

Motorcycles

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic calming measures are available to tackle speeding by motorcycle traffic.

Stephen Ladyman: Traffic calming measures will have an effect on motorcycle traffic directly and also indirectly as a result of slowing the speed of the general flow of traffic, including motorcycles. Full width road humps are likely to be the most effective in slowing motorcycles directly. I recognise that speed cushions and chicanes may be less effective in slowing motorcycles. It is for the relevant highway authority to determine the most appropriate form of traffic calming dependingon local circumstances.

Network Rail: Debts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total level of Network Rail's debt guaranteed by the Government are; what the annual interest charge on that debt is; and what proportion of that debt has been repaid in the past 12 months.

Tom Harris: The credit support arrangements for Network Rail's Medium Term Note programme are capped at £10 billion principal, while the unused long-term contingency buffer is capped at £4 billion principal. There is no similar limit on the financial indemnity to support Network Rail's Debt Issuance Programme (DIP). However, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has included in Network Rail's licence a condition that limits NR's borrowing under the DIP to 90 per cent. of its regulatory asset base (RAB). If DIP debt reaches 85 per cent. of the RAB, Network Rail have to provide ORR with an action plan of how to reduce debt below this level. The most recent public reporting of this ratio was contained in the ORR's "Q2 06-07 Network Rail Monitor", published on 13 November 2006, in which NR's total debt was reported as being equal to 74.6 per cent. of the RAB. This, and a number of other controls, limit the Secretary of State's exposure under the financial indemnity.
	Network Rail's interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2006 reported the company's net debt as £17.929 billion, compared to £16.750 billion at 30 September 2005.
	Network Rail advises that the information requested on the annual interest charge on the net debt is not readily available. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to this part of his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Permit Regulations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will bring forward secondary legislation on permit regulations under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Gillian Merron: Secondary legislation on permit regulations under the Traffic Management Act 2004 are planned to come into force late 2007.

Road Congestion

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce congestion on the roads serving  (a) East Midland and  (b) Birmingham airports.

Stephen Ladyman: Schemes to reduce congestion on roads serving Nottingham East Midlands and Birmingham International Airports are as follows:
	 (a) Nottingham East Midlands Airport
	The Highways Agency has two schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements adjacent to Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
	The widening of the M1 to four lanes between Junctions 21 and 30 is currently planned for the period 2007 to 2014-15. The section between Junctions 21 and 25, adjacent to the airport, together with the improvement of Junctions 23A, 24 and 24A and construction of the A6 Kegworth Bypass, is currently planned for the period 2010 to 2014-15.
	The widening of the A453 between M1 Junction 24 and the A52 at Nottingham is currently planned for 2008-09, with completion in 2011-12. The A453 proposals would assist in the provision of reliable access between the proposed Parkway railway station and the Airport.
	 (b) Birmingham International Airport
	Active Traffic Management (ATM) with hard shoulder running was implemented on M42 Junctions 3A-7 on 12 September 2006. The full widening of this section of motorway will be considered following an assessment of the impact of the ATM pilot project. The Highways Agency expects this work to be completed in 2008. One of the factors to be taken into account in this assessment will be the need to provide adequate strategic access to cater for any future expansion of Birmingham International Airport.

Roads

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new roads were built in Essex in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Roads can be built by the Highways Agency, the local transport authority (Essex county council), or private developers; the Secretary of State does not have access to a complete or central record. The following information is sourced from "Essex Traffic Monitoring Report 2005", published by Essex county council in April 2006 and includes significant schemes built both by the authority and the Highways Agency.
	
		
			  Date  Route  Location 
			 January 2002 A130 Northern Section (A12-A132) 
			 July 2002 A136 Parkeston Bypass Stage 2 
			 September 2002 A131 Great Leighs Bypass 
			 December 2002 M11 Stansted Slip Roads 
			 February 2003 A130 Southern Section (A132-A127) 
			 June 2003 A134 Northern Approach, Colchester 
			 December 2003 A120 M11-Dunmow West 
			 July 2004 A120 Dunmow West-Braintree 
			  Notes: 1. 2005—no significant routes opened. 2. 2006—data unavailable.

Roadworks

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has undertaken with local authorities on future fee levels for permit schemes for streetworks; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: In developing the proposals for future fee levels for permit schemes, a series of workshops were held with representatives from local highway authorities during summer 2006. Discussions were also held with representatives from utility companies. A twelve week consultation on this issue and other proposals for permit schemes is currently taking place, responses invited by 26 February 2007.

Speed Cameras

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue was generated from fines resulting from speed camera convictions in Cambridgeshire in the latest year for which figures are available; and what sums were passed to  (a) the Consolidated Fund and  (b) the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership.

Stephen Ladyman: The audit certificate for the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership for the financial year shows that fines from the conditional offer of fixed penalties for offences detected by speed cameras during 2004-05 was £1,196,460. The amount returned to the partnership to improve road safety within the Cambridgeshire area for the same period via the netting off process was £1,021,261 (85.4 percent).
	In accordance with the handbook of rules and guidance for the national safety camera programme the surplus of £175,199 is retained by the consolidated fund.
	The audit certificates for 2005-06 will be available on the DfT website very shortly.
	The 'netting off' funding arrangement for safety cameras is being ended after 2006-07 and from 2007-08 safety cameras and their funding are to be integrated into the Local Transport Plan system (in England outside London) alongside other road safety measures.
	This will give greater flexibility to local authorities, the police and the other agencies to pursue which ever locally agreed mix of road safety measures will make the greatest contribution to reducing road casualties in their area. It will also provide greater financial stability and facilitate long term planning.

British Waterways

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the original grant allocation from his Department was for British Waterways in advance of subsequent in year reductions for each year between 2000-01 and 2006-07; and what the grant allocation is for 2007-08.

Barry Gardiner: The following table shows the grant allocated and the grant actually paid to British Waterways in each year from 2000-01 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Original allocation  Revised following (in year changes) 
			 2000-01 58.9 64.9 
			 2001-02 52.5 61.4 
			 2002-03 71.6 71.6 
			 2003-04 76.6 76.6 
			 2004-05 59.1 59.1 
			 2005-06 61.6 62.6 
			 2006-07 59.4 55.5 
		
	
	The grant allocation for 2007-08 is the same as 2006-7 after revision.

Cattle Stocks

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the relative values of organic and non-organic cattle stocks; and if he will consider proposals to pay enhanced compensation for organic reactors to tuberculosis tests.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government recognise that the current table-based cattle compensation system (for tuberculosis, enzootic bovine leukosis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and brucellosis) is a cause of concern to farmers of organic cattle, and officials are considering representations made.
	We have set up the Cattle Compensation Advisory Group (CCAG) to work with the industry to monitor the introduction of the new compensation system. One of the issues the CCAG has considered is the impact of the new arrangements on the organic sector.
	Defra and the CCAG are discussing a range of ideas the group has suggested for enhancing the current compensation arrangements. While Defra has not ruled out the possibility of changes to the compensation system, they are not inevitable. Any changes would need to be justified and fair to farmers and the taxpayer. They would also need to take account of the extensive evidence about the level of over valuation experienced under the previous system based on individual valuations.
	I will write to the hon. Member when I am in a position to provide an update on developments.

Climate Change

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what total Government funding was for climate change research in each of the last five years; who the recipients were; how much funding was allocated to each; and what assessment has been made of the comparative value for money of each recipient's work.

Ian Pearson: A sound basis of research to understand the implications of a changing climate is essential to drawing a climate change perspective into decision-making across the whole range of Defra's responsibilities. Defra's climate change research programme analyses the risk of human-induced climate change. It also assesses the potential impacts of climate change and our means of adaptation and mitigation.
	Defra's committed spend to those research projects which have some relevance to climate change is given in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Defra spending 
			 2002-03 22.8 
			 2003-04 28.2 
			 2004-05 33.4 
			 2005-06 35.2 
			 2006-07 (1)37.2 
			 (1) Provisional. 
		
	
	In addition to spending on projects relating directly to climate change, the figures given in the table also include spending on projects of a cross-cutting nature where climate change may be of secondary importance but still has some relevance.
	Details on all the climate change research funded by Defra can be found on the Defra website at:
	http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/projects.asp?M=KWS&V==climate+change&SUBMIT1=Search&SCOPE=0
	Research on climate change funded by Defra is assessed through peer-review where relevant both prior to commissioning and after completion. Defra staff routinely review the progress and outcome of projects, often with the assistance of independent steering committees. As part of these processes, value for money is evaluated throughout the lifetime of a research project and its translation into policy.
	Defra also commissions periodic reviews of its research contracts. A technical and scientific review of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) was carried out in 2005 to assess its performance and identify its priorities for the next five years. The review concluded that UKCIP is performing very effectively with the resources available and therefore represents good value for the current level of investment.
	Defra's research budget includes support for the Hadley Centre, which it co-funds with MOD) (contributions of £12.5 million and £3.5 million respectively in 2005-06).
	Defra and the Ministry of Defence have commissioned a major independent review of the activities of the Hadley Centre. This review is concerned with the scientific output and quality of the Hadley Centre's activities, as well as structure and engagement with external stakeholders. A final report is due to be published by the end of this month.
	The UK Research Councils support a considerable amount of research that is both directly about climate change or is relevant to climate change. Taken together this is of the order of £400 million over the five years. They have also invested over £190 million over the same period into sustainable and future energy.
	Research work of relevance to climate change is also undertaken and funded by the Department for International Development, and the Department for Transport. In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry, funds research into emerging low carbon technologies.

EU Directives

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many EU directives have been transposed by his Department and its predecessor Departments since 1997; and how many of them were transposed beyond the minimum requirements of the original directive.

Ian Pearson: Defra was formed in June 2001. Information relating to Defra's predecessor Departments is not held centrally. Between 8 June 2001 and 31 December 2006, 203 EU directives for which Defra has responsibility for implementation were adopted. The Department has transposed 153 of these.
	Details of all directives in force can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website at:
	http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex

Snares

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review the legality of using snares.

Ben Bradshaw: When Defra published its Code of Good Practice on the use of Snares in Fox and Rabbit Control in October 2005, it also published the Defra Snares Action Plan. A copy of the Action Plan can be found on the Defra website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/pdf/snares-actionplan.pdf
	The action plan clearly sets out Defra's commitment for research to be undertaken to monitor the voluntary uptake of the code, its practical application and impact. A research project will be procured in the near future. Defra will aim to review the Code of Good Practice by the end of 2008 in the light of research findings and of its impact on snaring practices and results. Following the review of the code, Defra will consider giving it a higher legal status if appropriate.

Flying Hours

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours on  (a) aircraft and  (b) simulators is required for each grade and type of RAF flying instructor; and what the equivalent required hours were in (i) 2000 and (ii) 1990.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 January 2007
	The recommended minimum number of flying hours, on frontline aircraft types, to be considered for entry onto a Central Flying School (CFS) instructor training course is 500 hours. On passing the course pilots will be awarded a B2 (On Probation) Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI)/Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) qualification.
	Instructors can then progress to Bl, A2 and Al instructional categories as they gain experience. Recategorization can take place when instructors complete the recommended minimum number of hours of instructional duties as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  QFI/QHI instructional category  Recommended minimum instructional hours( 1,2) 
			 Bl (capable instructor) 120 
			 A2 (above average instructor) 250 
			 Al (exceptional Instructor) 400 
			 (1 )Instructors who gain a distinguished pass on a CFS Instructor course have reduced minimums. (2) At any time the Commandant Central Flying School may permit recategorization before the instructor has reached minimum instructional hours stated above based on written assessment of performance. 
		
	
	There is currently no minimum simulator hours requirement. These flying hours requirements have remained unchanged since 1990.

Nuclear Submarines

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for ensuring an adequate supply of highly enriched uranium to fuel four replacement ballistic missile submarines; and what the projected cost is of these plans.

Des Browne: We are considering options to ensure the supply of highly enriched uranium to fuel replacement ballistic missile submarines. The broad-order cost of such a requirement is reflected in the overall estimate of £15-20 billion indicated in the White Paper (CM 6994) published on 4 December. At this very early stage in the procurement process, we are not in a position to break down these estimates in the way requested.

Parliamentary Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will provide an answer to question  (a) 105967, on helicopter pilot flying hours,  (b) 103359, on ministerial visits and  (c) (i) 101077 and (ii) 101069, on mental welfare of discharged personnel, tabled by the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean.

Derek Twigg: I replied to the hon. Member as follows:
	 (a) Question 105967—18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1476;
	 (b) Question 103359—8 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 94-96W;
	 (c) Question 101077—18 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1478-83W;
	 (d) Question 101069—14 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1256-57W.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer question 101406, on Colombia, tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South on 20 November 2006.

Des Browne: I replied to the hon. Member on 23 November 2006,  Official Report, column 169W.

Transport Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times  (a) C-17A Globemaster,  (b) Hercules LC-130,  (c) Tristar and  (d) VC-10 aircraft have been cannibalised in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: The removal of serviceable parts from one aircraft for use on another is a routine and temporary measure to ensure that the maximum number of aircraft are available to the front line.
	The number of these instances over the last 12 months (January to December 2006 unless otherwise annotated), by donor aircraft, is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Number of cannibalisations 
			 C17 49 
			 C130J (1)509 
			 C130K (2)529 
			 TriStar 165 
			 VC10 77 
			 (1) 1 November 2005 to 31 October 2006. (2) 30 November 2005 to 1 December 2006.

Prisons

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has evaluated or commissioned on the effectiveness of prisons in reducing reoffending.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are delivering a wide range of interventions in prisons which are consistent with international evidence on what is effective in reducing reoffending. We have some evidence on these interventions in England and Wales which the Home Office has published. As part of the ongoing NOMS research strategy we will be developing our understanding of what works in prisons.

Anti-social Behaviour

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legislation introduced in the last 10 years to combat antisocial behaviour.

Tony McNulty: The effectiveness of legislation and interventions introduced to combat anti-social behaviour has been assessed in two major independent reports published last year. On 7 December 2006 the National Audit Office published the report titled "Tackling Anti-social Behaviour—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General". On 2 November 2006 the Youth Justice Board published a report titled "Anti-Social Behaviour Order Research". Both of these reports confirm that our twin track approach of support and sanction is effective in providing communities respite from antisocial behaviour.

Crime Statistics

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of  (a) violence against the person,  (b) theft and  (c) criminal damage were committed in Stockport in each year since 1998.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 11 January 2007
	Data are for Stockport Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
	Recorded crime data by CDRP were first collected centrally in 1999-2000, but for certain offences only. A full data collection followed in 2000-01. Therefore, data for violence against the person are available from 1999-2000 and for theft and criminal damage from 2000-01.
	The available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Stockport Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 
			   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Violence against the person 3,218 3,470 3,543 3,809 4,313 4,427 4,409 
			 Theft and handling n/a 13,246 13,402 13,017 12,053 10,380 10,578 
			 Criminal damage n/a 7,021 7,468 6,831 7,304 6,722 7,387 
			  Note:  The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002 which means these figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime Statistics

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes took place in Peterborough city council area in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The available information is for the Peterborough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area and is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: violent crimes recorded by the police in the Peterborough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area—2001-02 
			  Number of violent crimes 
			 2001-02 3,202 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: violent crimes recorded by the police in the Peterborough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area—2002-03 to 2005-06 
			  Number of violent crimes 
			 2002-03 5,203 
			 2003-04 5,855 
			 2004-05 5,827 
			 2005-06 4,775 
			  Note: The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced nationally in April 2002. Figures after that date are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

DNA Database

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to question 103285, on the DNA database, tabled by the hon. Member for West Chelmsford for named day answer on 28 November 2006.

Joan Ryan: I replied to the hon. Member on 4 January 2007,  Official Report, column 132W.

National Identity Register

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether university students will be required to register their term-time address with the national identity register in addition to their vacation address.

Joan Ryan: As was stated during the passage of the Identity Cards Act 2006, students will be given the option of recording their home address or a term time address or both.

National Identity Register

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be a charge to register a second residence with the national identity register.

Joan Ryan: The Government have indicated in Parliament that it anticipates that changes to information on a person's record on the national identity register that would not require a change of card (e.g. address) would not incur a fee. Registration of an additional residence would be likely to fall into this category.

Racially Aggravated Offences

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with racially aggravated offences in each English region in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The requested data is not collected centrally. Prosecutions for racially aggravated offences by local area have been included in successive annual releases of the Section 95 publication 'Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System', which are available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/section951.html

Rape

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of how the effectiveness of written warnings to young offenders in combating rape; in what circumstances young offenders who have committed  (a) rape and  (b) sexual assault may be issued with written warnings; and what assessment has been made of the views of victims of those crimes of the use of written warnings.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The decision to give a warning for a rape or sexual offence is dependant on the facts of each case and, since three April 2006, will be made by a specialist rape prosecutor and referred to a second specialist prosecutor for a second opinion before a warning is delivered. The prosecutor will have access to the full facts of the case, something that is rarely in the public domain.
	In general warnings are not appropriate for a rape or other serious sexual offence. But the police and CPS must have the flexibility to act in the best interests of the victim in exceptional situations. When deciding whether to issue a warning the views of the victim will be taken into account.

Translation Costs

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of translating departmental publications into languages other than English was in 2005-06.

Liam Byrne: The cost for translating HO publications into languages other than English between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 was £148,582.18.

Agricultural Sector

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of brigading government responsibilities for the agricultural industry and the environment within one Department; and if he will move responsibility for the agricultural sector to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 21 February 2005,  Official Report, column 192W.

Downing Street Staff

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the job titles are of each staff member employed at public expense at No. 10 Downing Street.

Tony Blair: Details of key officials in my Office can be found in "Vacher's Quarterly" and "Dod's Civil Service Companion". Copies of each can be found in the Libraries of the House. Details can also be found on the No. 10 website.

Miami Trip Costs

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse was of the  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) hospitality for the staff who accompanied him to his recent trip to Miami.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the Register of Members Interests. As was the practice under previous administrations, I was accompanied by essential communications and security staff.

Ministerial Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what residences have been made available to Ministers in the course of their duties; where each is; what the council tax banding of each is; and to which Minister each residence is allocated.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Hilary Armstrong) to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 23 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1625W.
	In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Margaret Beckett) has been allocated 1 Carlton Gardens. The flats in Downing Street, Admiralty House and the Carlton Gardens residence are in council tax Band H. Council tax for Chequers, Chevening and Dorneywood is a matter for the trustees.

Policy Review

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff in  (a) No. 10 Downing Street and  (b) the Cabinet Office are involved in work on the Prime Minister's policy review.

Tony Blair: The policy review is a high priority for the whole of Government, including Cabinet Office and No. 10, and staff are involved as and when appropriate.

Special Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether special advisers in No. 10 Downing Street have made use of an official car in the last 12 months, excluding travel, when accompanying a Minister.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport (Dr. Ladyman) on 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1063W.

Canals and Inland Waterways

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what effect she expects reductions in the British Waterways grant to have on sport, leisure, recreation and tourism associated with Britain's canals and inland waterways.

Shaun Woodward: It is important that British Waterways has the correct resources to continue the work of maintaining and improving waterways as a focus for local communities and tourism.
	Defra continues to consult closely with British Waterways on minimising any effect of grant reduction in 2006-07.

Departmental Targets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the progress towards the targets set out in her Departmental Business Plan 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The most up-to-date information on progress against our PSA and efficiency targets can be found in the 2006 DCMS Autumn Performance Report which was published on 19 December and is accessible via the following link to the DCMS website
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6FC98BF6-86F2-41FF-B2AC-6F7986F54593/0/APR2006PDFVersionforWeb2.pdf
	Additionally, hard copies of this report were placed in the Libraries of both houses on the 19 December 2006.

Digital Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of people who are eligible for the digital switchover targeted assistance programme but who may not be identified by the proposals put forward in the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: DWP holds information on the vast majority of people aged 75 or above and on all those who have an award of disability living allowance, attendance allowance or an equivalent benefit under the industrial injuries scheme. The Veterans Agency holds information about people who have an award of constant attendance allowance or war pensioners' mobility supplement payable under the pre-2005 war pension scheme.
	We estimate that around 20 per cent. of people who are blind or partially sighted do not qualify on grounds of age or an award of a qualifying disability benefit—around 60,000 people in all. Therefore they may not be identified through the provisions of the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill.
	We are considering whether the Bill should be extended to include information held by local authorities on people who are blind or partially sighted.

Digital Television

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of households which will qualify for assistance in switching over to digital television in Devon and Cornwall, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Shaun Woodward: The details are in the table
	
		
			  Constituency ( 1) Households 
			  Devon  
			 East Devon 16,000 
			 Exeter 13,000 
			 North Devon 14,000 
			 Plymouth, Devonport 13,000 
			 Plymouth, Sutton 12,000 
			 South West Devon 10,000 
			 Teignbridge 16,000 
			 Tiverton and Honiton 14,000 
			 Torbay 16,000 
			 Torridge and West Devon 14,000 
			 Totnes 14,000 
			  Cornwall  
			 Falmouth and Camborne 14,000 
			 North Cornwall 15,000 
			 St Ives 14,000 
			 South East Cornwall 13,000 
			 Truro and St Austell 15,000 
			 (1)Defined as eligible benefit units.  Notes: 1. Rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. Eligibility for help from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme will be by benefit unit rather than the whole household definition used by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Office to forecast future household growth. 3. The definition of a benefit unit is a couple and any dependent children. It excludes adults deemed to be non-dependents who, if eligible, will be able to claim assistance from the Help Scheme in their own right.

Funding Applications

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for funding to  (a) the National Lottery,  (b) BIG and  (c) Reaching Communities were refused in each of the last two years for which figures are available; and what percentage of applications were refused in each year.

Richard Caborn: The Department has never collected comprehensive information about the number of Lottery applications. The number of unsuccessful applications to all Lottery distributors could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.
	According to information supplied by the Big Lottery Fund, the Reaching Communities programme was opened to applications in December 2005. Since then, there have been 987 applications. 272 awards have been made and 715 applications (about 72 per cent.) were unsuccessful.
	Most Big Lottery Fund programmes other than Reaching Communities have been operating for less than two years, so it would not be meaningful to break the figures down by year. In total, 64,505 applications have gone to decision of which 45,422 were successful and 19,083 (just under 30 per cent.) unsuccessful.

Gambling

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2006,  Official Report, column 166W, on gambling, with which members of the Small Bookmakers Association the Gambling Commission discussed the consultation document on gambling operating and personal licence fees; what position each held in the Association; and what company each represented.

Richard Caborn: My answer of 23 November 2006,  Official Report, column 166W, on gambling, referred to the Gambling Commission discussing the consultation document on gambling operating and personal licence fees with the Small Bookmakers Association. This was an error, since no such organisation exists. However, the Commission did discuss the fees proposals with both small bookmakers and representatives of small bookmakers, listed as follows:
	Warwick Bartlett, Global Betting and Gaming Consultants and Chairman of the Association of British Bookmakers;
	Howard Chisholm of Chisholm Bookmakers;
	Charles Needham of Tremayne Racing;
	Will Roseff of Backhouse Racing.
	The Remote Gambling Association was also incorrectly described, as the British Gambling Association, in the previous answer of 23 November 2006.

Swimming Pools: Drownings

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made on the research into childhood drowning in public pools promised to the Right to Swim Campaign in October 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The action plan which my Department announced in September 2005, to address an apparent blanket application of restrictive admissions policies at swimming pools, has achieved its aim.
	The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management issued revised guidance in 2005. As a consequence, we are aware of at least 15 pools that have since changed their
	admissions policies.
	We remain keen to conclude implementation of the action plan with the publication of the research led by the National Water Safety Forum, and we expect this to happen as soon as possible. We understand the publication date has been delayed due to a need for further evidence gathering.

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters to his Department sent from hon. Members during Session 2005-06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) over six months old.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has no letters from right hon./hon. Members, received during session 2005-06, that remain unanswered.

Parliamentary Questions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written parliamentary questions to his Department in the 2005-06 session were not answered wholly or in part on grounds of disproportionate cost.

Peter Hain: This information is not held in the format requested. However, it is a matter of public record and can be found in the  Official Report.

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Information is only available for the post of Director of the Wales Office. Details of the cash equivalent transfer value of the Directors who held that post was published in the Remuneration Report of the DCA Resource Accounts for 2005-06, pages 20 and 21. The accounts were printed on 12 October 2006, and are available in the House Library, or on the DCA's website.
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/dept/report2006/resource-accts-0506a.pdf.

Children's Centres

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what future funding he proposes to local authorities to fund children's centres following the first year's funding.

Beverley Hughes: The first Sure Start Children's Centres were set up in 2003. Between 2003 and 2006 we have delivered centres to reach 650,000 children under five and their families. We are now in the second phase which will see 2,500 centres in total up and running by 2008. The revenue allocation for the current phase (2006-08) is £1.4 billion for children's centres and Sure Start Local Programmes and includes start-up funding for new centres opening between 2006 and 2008 as well as ongoing funding to support centres that opened before April 2006. By 2010 we aim to have 3,500 centres open—one for every community—and we intend that children's centres will be a key part of our permanent, mainstream children's services. Decisions about funding for children's centres after 2008 will be taken when we have concluded our comprehensive spending review.

Early Years Care

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the expected cost to the Exchequer of extending the entitlement to free nursery care for all three and four-year-olds from 12.5 hours per week to  (a) 15 and  (b) 20 hours per week for 38 weeks;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the expected cost to the Exchequer of extending the entitlement to free nursery care for all three and four-year-olds from 38 to 43 weeks a year for  (a) 15 and  (b) 20 hours per week.

Beverley Hughes: holding answers 11 January 2007
	The 10-Year Childcare Strategy set out our commitment to extending the free entitlement to early education and care for all three and four-year-olds to 15 hours by 2010. We are also committed to increasing the flexibility of the free entitlement so that it is more responsive to the needs of children and families.
	In the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) work is ongoing to estimate the cost of the extensions to 15 and 20 hours, based on population and take-up data and current levels of funding. We are seeking to roll-out the extension to 15 hours gradually, starting with 20 pathfinder local authorities who will begin providing the 15 hours and greater flexibility from April this year. These pathfinders will provide crucial information on the practical local implications of the changes which will underpin national estimates of the cost of extending the entitlement and increasing its flexibility. Figures cannot be confirmed in advance of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review settlement and until we have these findings.
	We have no plans to extend the free entitlement to 43 rather than 38 weeks, though some local authorities offer the current free entitlement over more than 38 weeks by providing access to fewer hours per week where this is what parents want for their children.

GCSEs

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of year 11 pupils at state schools in York achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs in each year since 1992.

Jim Knight: York local authority was formed on 1 April 1996 as a result of local government reorganisation, so data before then is not available. The following table gives the percentage of 15 year old pupils(1) obtaining five or more GCSEs and equivalents(2) in York local authority in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   5+ A*-C 
			 1996 47.7 
			 1997 51.4 
			 1998 48.9 
			 1999 51.5 
			 2000 52.6 
			 2001 54.2 
			 2002 56.4 
			 2003 58.9 
			 2004 56.6 
			 2005 59.8 
			 2006(3) 61.5 
			 (1) Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August. (2 )Data from 1997 to 2003 include GCSEs and GNVQs. Data since 2004 include GCSEs and a range of other equivalences. (3) Data for 2006 is provisional. Data for all other years is final.

Higher Education

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of non-prescribed courses in higher education were funded by the Local Skills Council in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council are generally responsible for funding non-prescribed HE courses in FE colleges. The number of LSC funded learners in further education and work-based learning undertaking level 4 and above courses was as follows:
	AY 2001/02—58,000 learners (representing 1.3 per cent. of LSC funded learners)
	AY 2002/03—72,000 learners (representing 1.5 per cent. of LSC funded learners)
	AY 2003/04—77,000 learners (representing 1.6 per cent. of LSC funded learners)
	AY 2004/05—74,000 learners (representing 1.6 per cent. of LSC funded learners)
	AY 2005/06—70,000 learners (representing 1.7 per cent. of LSC funded learners)
	Data on the total number of HE non-prescribed courses are not currently available.

Nuclear Skills Academy

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on the establishment of the Nuclear Skills Academy.

Phil Hope: A proposal for a National Skills Academy covering the nuclear industry was among four proposals chosen by the employer-led selection panel from the second round of bids received in the summer of last year. The four successful bidders were announced on 31 October and invited to produce detailed business plans with the support of the Learning and Skills Council. Business planning commenced in November 2006 and it is hoped will be completed by May 2007. Only when a business plan is judged to meet the rigorous criteria set for National Skills Academies, including being able to demonstrate sponsorship from employers and good prospects for sustainability, is an academy recommended for approval by Ministers.

Vocational Education

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have been assisted by centres for vocational education since their inception.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council as they lead on the delivery of Centres for Vocational Excellence. Mark Haysom, the chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council, has written to the hon. Member with the information on the number of students assisted by Centres of Vocational Excellence since their inception and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 8 December 2006:
	Thank you for your query regarding the total funding of the CoVE programme and the number of learners affected by CoVE since its inception in Sept 2001.
	In response, please find attached a spreadsheet containing information answering your queries.
	Please note however:
	Learner Numbers
	Learners are only counted if any of their programme was indicated as CoVE learning
	Learner numbers are rounded to the nearest 100 learners
	There is a known under-count of CoVE learners in 2002/03
	Learner counts are by year—if a learner was enrolled on a 2 year program—that learner would be counted in each year
	For 2001/02—recording of CoVE learners was not possible
	Learner recording system does not include non LSC funded provision
	Financial Information
	Financial projections are accurate as of December 2006
	Changes in status of CoVEs could delay payments across financial years
	Removal/withdrawal of status will reduce the total cost of the programme.
	
		
			  Numbers of learners indicated as being on CoVE provision 
			  Academic year  FE Learners  WBL Learners  Total 
			 2001/02 (1)— (1)— — 
			 2002/03 50,400 1,100 51,500 
			 2003/04 91,200 4,200 95,400 
			 2004/05 126,900 7,200 134,100 
			 2005/06 161,600 10,700 172,300 
			 Total 430,100 23,200 453,300 
			 (1 )Not recorded.   Note: 1. Learners are only counted if any of their programme was indicated as CoVE learning.  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100 learners.  3. There is a known under-count of CoVE learners in 2002/03.  4. Learner counts are by year—if a learner was enrolled on a 2-year programme that learner would be counted in each year.  5. For 2001/02 recording of CoVE learners was not possible.  6. Learner recording system does not include non-LSC funded provision.   Source:  Individualised Learner Records for 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06. 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Revenue  Capital  Total 
			 2001/02 1,920,000 2,880,000 4,800,000 
			 2002/03 14,540,000 21,230,000 35,770,000 
			 2003/04 13,402,500 42,893,613 56,296,113 
			 2004/05 11,445,500 20,992,387 32,437,887 
			 2005/06 12,213,334 31,812,548 44,025,882 
			 2006/07 10,181,334 19,780,333 29,961,667 
			 2007/08 6,906,333 3,991,000 10,897,333 
			 2008/09 1,274,084 0 1,274,084 
			 Total 71,883,085 143,579,881 215,462,966 
			  Notes: 1. Financial projections are accurate as of December 2006.  2. Changes in status of CoVEs could delay payments across financial years.  3. Removal/withdrawal of status will reduce the total cost of the programme.

China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue on trade between  (a) the EU and  (b) the UK and (i) the US and (ii) China.

Ian McCartney: The first US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on 14 and 15 December 2006. The dialogue redefined the bilateral economic relationship to reflect the 21st century global economy and move beyond bilateral disagreements over the currency, IP protection and barriers to trade.
	The dialogue focused on five key areas: urban/rural imbalances in China; macro-economic issues including promoting balanced and strong growth and China's exchange rate reform; sustainable development through energy security; trade and investment; and environmental protection. There is scope for EU, UK through the EU where appropriate and US to work more closely together with China on these issues.

Energy Market

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what  (a) regulatory and  (b) self-regulatory protection is afforded to (i) domestic and (ii) small business consumers in the energy market.

Malcolm Wicks: Domestic energy customers are protected by general consumer law, by specific regulations overseen by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), and by industry self-regulation in areas such as doorstep selling, billing and disconnections.
	As in general consumer law, business energy customers do not have access to the range of protection available to domestic customers, although, like domestic customers, they may seek assistance from the statutory consumer body, Energywatch, as well as seeking redress through the courts.

Enterprise Insight

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Enterprise Insight has spent on consultants in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006 to date.

Margaret Hodge: Enterprise Insight informs us that the amount spent on consultants is as follows.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004 0 
			 2005-06 (1)19,991 
			 2006-07 (2)2,996 
			 (1 )this covers a 15 month period when Enterprise Insight changed its end of year date from December to March (2 )this covers nine months expenditure to December 2006

Furniture Safety

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide guidance to trading standards officers to ensure consistent implementation of the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I met the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Group in December 2006 to discuss issues relating to fire safety regulations for furniture. While the Department has no plans to issue guidance for trading standards on the implementation of the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire ) (Safety) Regulations 1988, at the meeting I invited industry to get involved in the DTI funded Scambuster pilots for trading standards to help them target those traders that sell substandard furniture that does not comply with the regulations.

National Grid: Proposed Pipeline

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when public consultations will be held on the National Grid's proposed gas pipeline through the Cotswolds; what assessment he has made of  (a) alternative routes,  (b) the depth necessary for the pipeline and  (c) the possible impact of the pipeline on the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and which bodies will be consulted.

Malcolm Wicks: National Grid has not submitted an application to install a gas pipeline through the Cotswolds. If it does then details of alternative routes, depth, size, and quality of landscape traversed, etc. will have to be submitted. The local Planning Authorities, Natural England as well as other interested parties will be consulted on any such proposal before any decision is taken.

North-west Regional Government

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the North West Regional Development Agency Chief Executive and Chair last met North West hon. and right hon. Members to discuss regional issues.

Margaret Hodge: The North West Regional Development Agency held a briefing session for all North West Members of Parliament in the House of Commons on 1 March 2006 and has since met with smaller groups of Members regarding particular key regional projects.
	The next regional parliamentary briefing is scheduled for 26 February 2007.

Public Bodies

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding his Department gave to the  (a) Technology Strategy Board,  (b) Simpler Trade Procedures Board and  (c) Industrial Development Advisory Board in each of the last five years; and how much has been provided to each body in 2006-07.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 4 December 2006
	The Technology Strategy Board and the Industrial Development Advisory Board are advisory bodies which do not receive any specific funding and the costs of administering the bodies is absorbed in the general administrative budgets.
	SITPRO, an Executive NDPB, has received the following amounts of funding in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Amount (£000) 
			 2001-02 835 
			 2002-03 1,048 
			 2003-04 1,278 
			 2004-05 l,314 
			 2005-06 l,050 
		
	
	The projected budget for 2006-07 is £900,000.

Royal Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent using Royal Mail in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In each of the last five financial years, the Department has spent the following amounts on services provided by Royal Mail to its buildings on the Central London Estate:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Expenditure 
			 2001-02 264,000 
			 2002-03 243,000 
			 2003-04 222,000 
			 2004-05 177,000 
			 2005-06 159,000 
		
	
	During the current financial year up to 30 November 2006, we have spent £99,000 on Royal Mail services.

Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of disposing of the electrical and electronic equipment that will become redundant following digital switchover.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on disposal costs for electrical and electronic equipment is contained in the final regulatory impact assessment which accompanied the WEEE regulations, which were laid before the House on 12 December 2006. The results of DTI/Defra sponsored research into the levels of waste disposal due to switchover will be published in early 2007.

Bulgaria and Romania

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to support the European Union in reducing corruption and organised crime in  (a) Bulgaria and  (b) Romania.

Geoff Hoon: The EU accession process has encouraged and supported the Bulgarian and Romanian Governments to tackle corruption and organised crime, but there remain serious challenges in both countries. The Commission and the Government continue to follow and support both Governments' continuing actions. Bulgaria and Romania are now key partners in the fight against organised crime. UK law enforcement agencies work closely with their Bulgarian and Romanian counterparts. Co-operation is excellent and we are providing specific assistance in a number of areas.
	In Bulgaria, a senior Metropolitan police officer has been providing assistance in co-ordinating projects across a number of law enforcement strands. These projects, which range from training Bulgarian law enforcement agencies in homicide investigation techniques to the establishment of a National Crime Prevention Council, involve personnel from a number of UK Departments and agencies. In addition, Crown agents have assisted with comprehensive reform of the Bulgarian customs.
	In Romania, the Government have supported a number of projects designed to tackle organised crime, including an initiative to assist the Romanian police in implementing the European Criminal Intelligence Model. The Government are providing assistance in the development of Project REFLEX, a highly successful multi-agency taskforce dedicated to tackling organised immigration crime which has already brought tangible benefits to the UK and Romania. We are also assisting the Romanian authorities in their fight against corruption through the secondment of an UK expert to work as the Romanian President's anti-corruption adviser.

Burma

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Ambassador of Burma about an independent investigation into the recent death of political prisoner Ko Thet Win Aung in Mandalay Prison in Burma; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Burmese Ambassador.
	I issued a statement on 19 October 2006 expressing my concern about the death of Ko Thet Win Aung. I called on the Burmese government to initiate an immediate investigation into the death and to allow independent bodies to monitor the conditions in Burma's prisons. Our Ambassador in Rangoon reinforced these points with the Minister of Home Affairs on 23 October 2006. The German Ambassador in Rangoon, as local EU Presidency, carried out a demarche the same day on the Burmese regime regarding the death of Ko Thet Win Aung. The German Ambassador expressed the EU's serious concern about the case and reminded the Burmese government that the EU had repeatedly called for the release of Ko Thet Win Aung and reiterated the call for an independent investigation into the matter.

Chad

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent conflict near the eastern Chadian town of Biltine and in the Ouaddei area.

Ian McCartney: We have seen reports of the recent occupation of Biltine by rebel forces and their subsequent defeat by the Chadian army. We are seriously concerned about the continuing conflict in eastern Chad and the deteriorating situation in the border regions of Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic. The escalating clashes between the rebels and the Chadian army risk worsening the humanitarian crisis and further destabilising the region.
	In the interests of regional peace and security we continue to call on the governments of Chad and Sudan to stop supporting each others' rebels and to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement, which calls for greater border integrity.

China

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with overseas counterparts on the embargo of Chinese products made using forced labour.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not raised the embargo on Chinese products made from forced labour with overseas counterparts. However, we strongly condemn all forms of forced labour and regularly raise China's reform through labour practices, including re-education through Labour, with the Chinese government at each round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, the last round of which was held in Beijing in July 2006.

China

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she was informed that the US had issued a démarche to the Chinese authorities about the recent shooting of Tibetans near to the border with Nepal.

Ian McCartney: The Government are aware that the US carried out a demarche on the Chinese authorities to request further information on the incident at Nangpa La Pass shortly after it was reported. We requested information bilaterally from the Chinese Government on 12 October. We strongly supported action by the EU, which raised the incident with the Chinese Government at the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 19 October 2006, and carried out a follow-up démarche on 19 December.

Death Penalty

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which foreign governments the UK Government has made representations since 1 May 1997 on the application of the death penalty.

Ian McCartney: Since 1 May 1997 we have made numerous representations about the application of the death penalty. In that period, over 20 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. As stated in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 Annual Human Rights Report we and the EU have lobbied in 2005-06, among other countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Cameroon, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the US, Vietnam and Yemen. Since 1 May 1997, we have lobbied most, if not all, countries which retain the death penalty in law. We have carried this out through multi-lateral and bilateral demarches or dialogues, and through lobbying for co-sponsorship of resolutions in the Commission for Human Rights and at the United Nations General Assembly.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the imprisonment of Fernando Kutino, Timothee Bompere and Junior Ngandu; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Our Embassy in Kinshasa, in conjunction with our EU partners, lobbied Ministers in the transitional Congolese government over the irregularities involved in the detention and trials of Fernando Kutino, Timothee Bompere and Junior Ngandu. In particular, we raised concerns over the use of a military court rather than a civilian one and inconsistencies in the evidence presented by the police and the prosecution.
	We will continue to remind the new Congolese government of its responsibility to protect human rights and to allow freedom of expression.

Fiji

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made on the restoration of democracy to the authorities in Fiji; what representations she has made on the case for elections to be held; and what discussions she has held with the  (a) British high commission, Suva and  (b) British high commissioner, Canberra.

Ian McCartney: On 5 December 2006 we issued a press statement condemning the military coup in Fiji and calling for a return to democracy as quickly as possible. A full copy of the statement can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=l163678514483
	On 29 December 2006 we issued a further statement following reports of human rights abuses committed by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), urging the RFMF to respect their citizens human rights and reiterating a call for a return to democracy.
	We have made no representations for elections to be held, but have urged the military, and the interim government, to return to democracy as quickly as possible.
	We continue to discuss the situation in Fiji with our high commissions in Suva, Canberra and Wellington on a regular basis. We are also liaising closely with our EU partners and the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the US in support of efforts to bring about a restoration of democracy and constitutional government in Fiji.

Iraq

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK Government have made to the government of Iraq on the circumstance of the application of the death penalty in respect of  (a) Mr. Saddam Hussein and  (b) other convicted Iraqi prisoners.

Kim Howells: We have expressed our serious concern about the unacceptable behaviour at Saddam Hussein's execution on several occasions to Iraqi officials at the highest level in Baghdad, including the Iraqi Prime Minister. We have made clear the UK's principled objection to the death penalty and stressed that any further executions that are implemented should be carried out with respect and dignity.

Morocco

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom.

Kim Howells: The UK's relations with Morocco continue to grow stronger.
	The Government are committed to further broaden and deepen UK/Morocco co-operation. This includes supporting the Moroccan government's plans for economic and social development, and developing co-operation in areas of shared interest and concern, e.g. tackling the threat from international terrorism and the challenges presented by regional migration.
	In order to take forward these objectives the UK and Morocco have set up an annual Ministerial Dialogue Forum between the two countries. I co-chaired the inaugural session in Rabat in June 2006 and look forward to a second round of the Forum in London later this year.

Sri Lanka

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of civilian deaths arising from the recent conflict in Sri Lanka; what action she is taking to encourage dialogue between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and what assessment she has made of the current status of the 2001 ceasefire agreement.

Kim Howells: We monitor the number of casualties closely. In 2006 there were approximately 1,000 civilian deaths. Between 1 and 10 January this year there were over 40 civilian deaths.
	The UK engages with all parties to the conflict to support the peace process. We encourage our EU and international partners to do likewise. The visit in November 2006 by my right hon. Friend the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Paul Murphy), a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and his subsequent meetings with President Rajapakse, representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other participants of the peace process is an example of our continued engagement.
	While it is clearly under increasing pressure the signatories have not withdrawn from the 2002 Cease-Fire Agreement. It remains the agreed framework for the negotiation of a settlement to resolve the Sri Lanka conflict. We continue to call on the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to observe their commitments under the Cease-Fire Agreement and demonstrate this by ceasing hostilities, ending human rights abuses and bloodshed, and creating an atmosphere for constructive discussions to further the peace process. We fully support and are in close contact with the Norwegian Government in their work to facilitate a peaceful and sustainable solution that satisfies the legitimate demands of all Sri Lankans and promotes stability, democracy and respect for human rights in the country.

Sudan

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the UK Government to promote the protection of the rights of the Christian Community in Sudan.

Ian McCartney: The Government remains strongly committed to the protection of the human rights of all Sudan's citizens. We call on the Sudanese government to ensure that all religions can be practised without fear of harassment or intimidation. We take seriously any infringement of religious freedom, such as an incident involving the use of tear gas at All Saints Church in Khartoum on new year's eve. We are pressing the Sudanese police to undertake a thorough investigation of the incident, and will remain in contact with church leaders. In addition, the Government are a strong supporter of the North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Under this agreement, a range of peace building commissions are being established including a national Human Rights Commission and the Commission for the Protection of non-Muslim Rights in the National Capital.

Sudan and Chad

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the governments of  (a) Sudan and  (b) Chad on (i) complying with bilateral agreements, (ii) securing their common border and (iii) co-operating on stabilising the region.

Ian McCartney: We take every opportunity to press both Sudan and Chad to stop supporting each others' rebels and to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement. Christopher Prentice, UK Ambassador-at-Large for the Sudanese Peace Process, stressed this to the Government of Sudan during his visit in December 2006. Our Permanent Representative to the UN in New York did the same with the Chadian Foreign Minister on 20 December 2006 in New York. Given the importance of this issue, we will continue to press both governments on this matter.

1921 Census

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Freedom of Information applications were made to the Office for National Statistics in each month between January 2005 and November 2006 for disclosure of extracts from the 1921 Census for specific addresses in England or Wales.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many Freedom of Information applications were made to the Office for National Statistics in each month between January 2005 and November 2006 for disclosure of extracts from the 1921 Census for specific addresses in England or Wales. (113799)
	Between January 2005 and November 2006 the Office for National Statistics received a total of 19 requests for information from the 1921 Census, under the Freedom of Information Act. The attached table breaks these request down by month.
	
		
			  FOI requests for 1921 Census. 
			   Number of requests 
			 January 2005 — 
			 February 2005 2 
			 March 2005 5 
			 April 2005 — 
			 May 2005 — 
			 June 2005 — 
			 July 2005 — 
			 August 2005 1 
			 September 2005 2 
			 October 2005 — 
			 November 2005 — 
			 December 2005 — 
			 January 2006 1 
			 February 2006 2 
			 March 2006 — 
			 April 2006 — 
			 May 2006 2 
			 June 2006 1 
			 July 2006 1 
			 August 2006 1 
			 September 2006 — 
			 October 2006 — 
			 November 2006 1 
			 Total 19

Benefits Take-up

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the take up rate is of  (a) child benefit,  (b) child tax credit and  (c) working tax credit in Wimbledon.

Dawn Primarolo: Take-up rates for child benefit and child and working tax credit is not available by constituency.
	It is estimated that approximately 98 per cent. of families in the UK claim child benefit.
	Estimates of take-up rates for child and working tax credits in 2003-04, including breakdown by country and region, are detailed in the HMRC publication "Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. Take-up Rates 2003-04", which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm

Breweries

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in breweries producing  (a) below 5,000,  (b) between 5,000 and 30,000,  (c) between 30,000 and 60,000,  (d) between 60,000 and 200,000 and  (e) above 200,000 hectare litres of beer in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, date 15 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people were employed in breweries producing (a) below 5,000, (b) between 5,000 and 30,000, (c) between 30,000 and 60,000, (d) between 60,000 and 200,000 and (e) above 200,000 hectare litres of beer in each year since 1997. (115186)
	The table below shows the number of employees in the manufacture of beer industry (SIC 15.96) for Great Britain for each year from 1998 to 2004. A breakdown of employment by the volume of output of businesses within the industry is not available.
	
		
			  Number of employees in the manufacturing of beer industry, Great Britain, 1998 to 2004 
			   Number of employees (thousand) 
			 1998 19.7 
			 1999 20.6 
			 2000 19.5 
			 2001 20.7 
			 2002 17.8 
			 2003 18.4 
			 2004 16.5

Hospital Births

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were in 2005-06 at  (a) the West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven and  (b) the Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2007:
	As the National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about how many births there were in 2005-06 at (a) West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven and (b) the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. (114638)
	The latest year for which figures are available is the calendar year 2005; the table below shows figures for live births and stillbirths in 2005.
	
		
			  Live births and stillbirths occurring in West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven and the Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle in 2005 
			   West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven  The Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle 
			 Live births 1,624 1,261 
			 Stillbirths 11 8

Skin Cancer

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many diagnoses of skin cancer there were in each year since 1996.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many diagnoses of skin cancer there were in each year since 1996. (113870)
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2004. Figures showing the number of cases of melanoma skin cancer registered in England, for the years 1996 to 2004, are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin( 1)  cancer registered in England, 1996 to 2004 
			   Numbers 
			 1996 4,708 
			 1997 5,010 
			 1998 5,116 
			 1999 5,289 
			 2000 5,940 
			 2001 6,339 
			 2002 6,541 
			 2003 6,732 
			 2004 7,363 
			 (1) Melanoma skin cancer is defined as code C43 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10).  Source:  Office for National Statistics

Skin Cancer

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mortality rate for skin cancer cases was in the UK in each year since 1996.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 15 January 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the mortality rate for skin cancer cases was in the UK in each year since 1996. (113871)
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2005. The attached table shows the age-standardised death rate from malignant skin cancer in the United Kingdom for the years 1996 to 2005.
	
		
			  Death rates( 1)  from malignant skin caner( 2) , United Kingdom, 1996 to 2005( 3) 
			   Death rate per million population 
			 1996 27 
			 1997 27 
			 1998 28 
			 1999 28 
			 2000 28 
			 2001 28 
			 2002 28 
			 2003 29 
			 2004 29 
			 2005 29 
			 (1) Rate per million population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) Selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 172-173 for the years 1996 to 2000 for England and Wales and Northern Ireland and for the years 1996 to 1999 for Scotland, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C43-C44 from 2001 onwards for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and from 2000 onwards for Scotland. The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2000 for Scotland and 2001 for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, means that figures are not completely comparable with data for years prior to this date. Comparisons between the data before and after 2000 or 2001 should therefore be interpreted with caution. An article specifically examining the effect of the change in classification for cancer trends in England and Wales was published in Health Statistics Quarterly 23*. More information about these changes for England and Wales can be found on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk/icd10mortality Information on the introduction of ICD-10 for coding mortality data in Scotland was published in the Registrar General's annual report for 2000 which can be found at http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/annrep/00annrep/00ap2.html Information on the introduction of ICD-10 for coding mortality data in Northern Ireland was published in the Registrar General's annual report for 2002 and can be found at http://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/financeandpersonnel/DMB/2002RG_Report/appendix7.pdf (3) Figures are for registrations of death in each calendar year for Scotland and Northern Ireland and for occurrences of death in each calendar year for England and Wales. * Brock A, Griffiths C, Rooney C (2004) The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on cancer mortality trends in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 23, 7-17.

Unemployment

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the UK's adult population were deemed to be economically inactive in each year since 1997; and what percentage this was in each case of the UK's adult working population.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 15 January 2007
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about economic inactivity. I am replying in her absence. (114900)
	The table overleaf gives estimates of economically inactive levels and rates, for the twelve-month periods ending December for each year from 1997. The table is based on annual averages ending in December each year. Economic inactivity levels and rates are published by the Office for National Statistics each month in the Labour Market Statistics First Release.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Economically inactive people of working age( 1)  1997 to 2006, United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted 
			  Twelve months ending December each year  Levels (000)  Rates( 2)  (percentage) 
			 1997 7,608 21.6 
			 1998 7,649 21.6 
			 1999 7,559 21.2 
			 2000 7,591 21.2 
			 2001 7,727 21.4 
			 2002 7,752 21.4 
			 2003 7,786 21.4 
			 2004 7,864 21.4 
			 2005 7,910 21.4 
			 2006(3) 7,847 21.1 
			 (1) Men aged 16 to 64 and women age 16 to 59. (2) Economically inactive people of working age as a percentage of all persons of working age. (3) Ten months ending October 2006.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Affordable Homes

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes there are in Bournemouth; and how many there were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2003.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 10 January 2007
	The numbers of social rent homes managed by local authorities and registered social landlords in Bournemouth as reported by Bournemouth local authority are tabulated as follows. Homes provided for social rent make up only part of the housing stock classified as affordable the remainder are provided through low cost home ownership schemes. Between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2006 an additional 283 affordable homes have been provided through a low cost home ownership scheme in Bournemouth.
	
		
			  Number of social rent homes in Bournemouth local authority 
			  Organisation responsible  1997  2003  2006 
			 Bournemouth local authority 5,690 5,277 5,161 
			 Registered social landlords 1,850 2,679 2,718 
			 Total 7,540 7,956 7,879 
			  Source: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix

Council Housing

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much in capital receipts from the sale of council houses in South Manchester under the right to buy legislation has  (a) been retained by central Government and  (b) been returned to the local authority (i) since the right to buy legislation was introduced and (ii) since 1997;
	(2)  how much the Government have received in capital receipts from the sale of council houses in South Manchester under the right to buy legislation  (a) since the right to buy legislation was introduced and  (b) since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Central Government began receiving housing receipts in 2004-05. Before then, with-debt local authorities were required to set aside a proportion of their housing receipts. The receipts set-aside could only be used for the repayment of the authority's debt. From 2004-05 set-aside no longer applied to Right to Buy (RTB) receipts as the "pooling" regime was introduced to ensure fair distribution of receipts and investment across the country, whereby local authorities paid over or "pooled" a proportion of their housing receipts to the Secretary of State to support wider housing investment.
	The proportion of the capital receipt set-aside or pooled is 75 per cent. for a dwelling and 50 per cent. for a non-dwelling asset. The local authority is free to use the remaining 25 per cent. or 50 per cent. respectively for any capital purpose they see fit.
	Data formally collected about amounts set-aside and data collected about the value of receipts pooled by the Secretary of State does not separately identify the value of the set-aside or pooled capital receipt derived from RTB disposals. The data cover all housing set aside/pooled receipts. These include receipts arising from the sales of vacant housing land, shops, community centres, and garages that are on estates owned by local authorities, and receipts arising from the sales of dwellings made under powers other than Right to Buy.
	The following table shows total receipts set aside and pooled for the whole of Manchester, since the Department does not collect data for individual areas such as South Manchester; nor does it collect data on the amount of receipts retained by local authorities. The table also shows the amount of financial support Manchester has received for its capital expenditure programme. This does not include support to Registered Social Landlords who all have built new homes in Manchester. It also includes the amount of revenue subsidy Manchester receives for running its own housing stock. Pre 1995-96 data is only available at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Housing receipts set-aside  Housing receipts pooling  Housing allocations  HRA Subsidy 
			 1995-96 15,643 n/a 26,875 not available 
			 1996-97 4,003 n/a 23,230 not available 
			 1997-98 6,469 n/a 20,447 40,253 
			 1998-99 6,954 n/a 29,505 34,190 
			 1999-2000 6,577 n/a 33,324 35,049 
			 2000-01 10,605 n/a 49,029 29,209 
			 2001-02 11,825 n/a 21,264 57,727 
			 2002-03 15,655 n/a 22,809 52,875 
			 2003-04 597 n/a 21,448 48,520 
			 2004-05 36,654 29,224 24,199 45,691 
			 n/a - not applicable

Departmental Annual Report

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what high risk items were identified in Firelink and replaced, as referred to on page 45 of her Department's annual report for 2006.

Angela Smith: The items are listed in the following table. The Firelink operational continuity programme involves safeguarding those elements of the existing fire and rescue service's ageing radio systems, identified through a risk-assessment process as being at a high risk of failure, until replacement by the new national Firelink digital radio system. Most of this legacy equipment is in excess of 15 years old.
	
		
			  Replacement of equipment in OpCon Phase 1 
			  Legacy equipment—high risk  Replacement equipment  Number 
			 HS400 Frequency Reference Dalman Satsync Frequency Reference 250 
			 Pye RLA simulcast control equipment Dalman Cosmos 4 control equipment 15 
			 Marconi/Pye Base Station PMR Products K4 Base Station 75 
			 Various voting system PRN4004 voting system 17 
			 Remote control for paging Paging switch 62 
			 Various VHF and UHF link Tait T800 VHP and UHF link 60 
			 Mobile radio (various) PMR products or Cleartone radio 459 
			 FL5000 Microwave Link Westica Microwave Link 8 
			  Note: Original equipment has been replaced with same functionality equipment where possible.

Departmental Equipment

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of her Department's  (a) computers and  (b) laptops were stolen in each of the last nine years; and what the total value was of stolen computers and laptops in this period.

Angela Smith: Communities and Local Government was created on 5 May 2006. The following information goes back to May 2002, and includes data for CLG's predecessor Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (which was formed on 29 May 2002) and its agencies, The data requested on thefts prior to this date is not held centrally and therefore cannot be provided.
	
		
			   Number of stolen computers  Number of stolen laptops 
			 2002-03 — 2 
			 2003-04 — 2 
			 2004-05 — 2 
			 2005-06 1 (1)7 
			 2006-07 1 7 
			 Total value (£) 750 (2)14,600 
			 (1) This includes two x laptops from the Fire Service College and recorded as lost at the time of the answer of 13 February 2006 to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T C Davies),  Official Report, column 1616W, but subsequently reported as stolen. (2 )Values prior to 2005-06 are estimated 
		
	
	This answer does not include Government office for the regions who carry out
	functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Design for Manufacture

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects properties in the Design for Manufacture competition areas to go onto the market.

Yvette Cooper: Each of the 10 sites that English Partnerships has put forward for the competition is at a slightly different point in the process. They have different estimated start and completion dates and there will, therefore, be different dates when the homes on each site will be placed on sale.
	The start of work on each site will vary according when issues such as detailed planning consent and contractual arrangements have been completed. The length of time it will take to complete each site also varies as they are of different scales.
	However, current estimates indicate that the first properties will come on to the market in April this year on the site at Renny Lodge in Newport Pagnell.

Fire Deaths

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total number of reductions of accidental fire-related deaths in the home has been in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on fire safety campaigns in each year.

Angela Smith: The information required is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Year  Deaths in accidental dwelling fires  Year  Fire safety media budget (£ million) 
			 2001 321 2001-02 (1)— 
			 2002 265 2002-03 4.8 
			 2003 302 2003-04 6.3 
			 2004 230 2004-05 5.7 
			 2005 212 2005-06 4.3 
			 (1 )Information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	Statistics for fire deaths in dwellings is recorded by calendar year. Budget for the fire safety media campaign is allocated on a financial year basis.

Government Office for London

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff were employed by the Government Office for London in each year since 1996-97; and what the forecast is for 2006-07.

Angela Smith: The Government Office for London (GOL) staffing figures from 1996-97 are as follows:
	
		
			  As at April:  Number( 1) 
			 1996 (2)— 
			 1907(3) 274 
			 1998(3) 305 
			 1999 390 
			 2000 370 
			 2001 240 
			 2002 260 
			 2003 288 
			 2004 325 
			 2005 308 
			 2006(4) 303 
			 2007(5) 273 
			 (1 )Prior to 2005 GOL staffing figures were calculated as those staff working in GOL on GOL business. Figures did not include those seconded into GOL who were paid for by their own employer. Figures up to April 2005 do not include staff on outward secondment, outward loan, maternity leave, special leave, and career breaks for whom we did not pay but who had a right of return to GOL in the future. (2 )No data held. (3 )March. (4 )Due to the outsourcing of the HR function for all Government Offices and the move to a central database, staffing figures are now calculated as those staff working in GOL on GOL business and on GOL's payroll. In addition, figures include staff on outward secondment, outward loan, maternity leave, special leave, and career breaks for whom we do not pay but who have a right of return to GOL in the future. (5 )This is based on staffing levels as at 31 December 2006. In line with the Treasury review of the GO network, GOL plans to reduce its staffing to approximately 250 by December 2008.

Government Office for the North East

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to public funds is of the planning directorate of the Government office for the north east.

Yvette Cooper: There is no planning directorate as such within GO-NE, planning-related functions are carried out by a number of teams.
	The Planning Team deal with local development plans and individual planning applications which may be called in. Their salary costs are budgeted for as £260,000 in 2006-07. The Strategy Team co-ordinates the Government response to the Regional Spatial Strategy which will determine the development framework for the region for the next 10 years. The Strategy Team's salary costs for 2006-07 are to be £214,000, however they are expected to decrease after the Secretary of State's modifications are published in 2007.

Housing

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bristol East of 7 December 2006,  Official Report, column 706W, on housing, what proportion of each category of housing stock was empty as at October 2005 in the south-west, broken down by local authority.

Yvette Cooper: The estimated proportions of vacant housing stock by tenure at October 2005 in south-west local authorities are shown in the following table. These estimates are based on all vacancies, including those of less than six months.
	
		
			  Proportion of total vacancies as a total of the stock—2005 
			  Percentage 
			   LA (including those owned by other LAs)  RSL  Other public sector  Private sector  Total 
			 Bath and North East Somerset n/a 1 (1)— 2 2 
			 Bournemouth 1 1 n/a (1)— 4 
			 Bristol 2 2 (1)— (1)— 3 
			 Caradon 1 (1)— (1)— 1 3 
			 Carrick 1 (1)— (1)— (2)— 3 
			 Cheltenham 4 2 (1)— (2)— 3 
			 Christchurch n/a 1 n/a 1 3 
			 Cotswold n/a 1 3 (2)— 3 
			 East Devon 1 (1)— n/a 1 3 
			 East Dorset n/a (1)— (1)— 1 2 
			 Exeter 1 2 3 (2)— 1 
			 Forest of Dean n/a 1 (2)— 1 2 
			 Gloucester 1 3 (1)— (1)— 3 
			 Isles of Scilly (1)— 2 n/a 1 1 
			 Kennet n/a 1 8 (1)— 3 
			 Kerrier n/a 1 (1)— 2 3 
			 Mendip n/a 1 n/a (2)— 3 
			 Mid Devon 1 1 n/a 1 3 
			 North Cornwall(3) 1 (1)— 20 2 3 
			 North Devon (1)— 1 (1)— 2 3 
			 North Dorset n/a 1 9 1 3 
			 North Somerset 1 2 (2)— (2)— 3 
			 North Wiltshire n/a 1 3 2 4 
			 Penwith n/a 1 n/a 1 3 
			 Plymouth 2 1 (1)— (2)— 3 
			 Poole 1 1 (1)— 2 3 
			 Purbeck(3) n/a (1)— 11 (1)— 2 
			 Restormel(3) n/a 1 14 (2)— 3 
			 Salisbury(3) 1 1 17 1 2 
			 Sedgemoor 2 1 n/a 1 4 
			 South Gloucestershire 1 1 (1)— (1)— 2 
			 South Hams n/a 1 n/a 1 3 
			 South Somerset (1)— 1 6 (1)— 3 
			 Stroud 1 (1)— n/a (1)— 2 
			 Swindon 2 1 (1)— (2)— 3 
			 Taunton Deane (1)— (1)— 7 (2)— 3 
			 Teignbridge n/a (1)— (1)— (1)— 3 
			 Tewkesbury (1)— 1 1 2 3 
			 Torbay n/a 1 n/a 2 5 
			 Torridge 1 1 n/a (2)— 2 
			 West Devon n/a 1 (1)— (2)— 3 
			 West Dorset n/a (1)— (1)— (1)— 2 
			 West Somerset n/a (1)— n/a (1)— 3 
			 West Wiltshire(3) 17 1 3 1 2 
			 Wevmouth and Portland n/a (1)— (1)— 1 3 
			 n/a = no stock in a particular tenure in district. (1) Less than 0.5 per cent. (2) Information not available. (3) High vacancy rates reflect relatively small stock  Source: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA)—1 April 2005 Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR)—31 March 2005 Council Tax Base (CTB) return—October 2005

Housing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what temporary housing provision was made available to the homeless in  (a) City of York council  (b) Harrogate borough council and  (c) Hambleton district council in each of the last three years.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter, and the types of temporary accommodation. The figures include both those households who have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, and those for which inquiries are pending.
	Data is published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, which includes a supplementary table showing the breakdown of key data, including temporary accommodation and type, by each local authority. These are published on our website each quarter, and placed in the Library of the House. Also on our website is a similar table (live table 627) which summarises key data for each local authority, including York, Harrogate and Hambleton, for each of the last three years:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/312/Table627_id1156312.xls
	Data provided includes the total numbers in temporary accommodation for each year, broken down between bed and breakfast, hostel, LA/RSL stock, private sector leased and other types of housing.
	Note that these supplementary type tables are not updated with revisions, but the figures for the three authorities of interest were not changed during the 2003-04 revisions process.
	In January 2005 the Government set a target of halving the number of households in all forms of temporary accommodation used by local authorities to discharge their main duty under the homelessness legislation.

Housing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision of  (a) social housing and  (b) affordable housing was in (i) City of York council (ii) Harrogate borough council and (iii) Hambleton district council in each of the last three years; and what the provision was in 1996-97.

Yvette Cooper: The numbers of social rent homes managed by local authorities and registered social landlords in York, Harrogate and Hambleton, as reported by the local authorities and the Housing Corporation, are tabulated as follows.
	
		
			  Number of social rent homes by local authority area( 1) 
			  Local authority area  1997  2004  2005  2006 
			 York 12,561 12,080 12,195 12,128 
			 Harrogate 6,181 6,095 6,203 5,913 
			 Hambleton 4,648 4,605 4,587 4,589 
			 (1) Stock shown as at 1 April  Source:  Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, Housing Corporation (RSR) 
		
	
	Homes for social rent make up only part of the housing stock classified as affordable; the remainder are provided through low cost home ownership schemes. Between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2006 an additional 295, 201 and 40 homes have been provided through a low cost home ownership scheme in York, Harrogate and Hambleton respectively.

Housing Associations

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to ensure that sufficient provision is made available to Supporting People to finance support services provided by housing associations to leaseholders; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Supporting People grants allocations to local authorities of approx £1.68 billion for 2007-08 were confirmed in July 2006. This includes provision for local authorities to finance support services provided by housing associations to leaseholders if they assess this to be a strategic priority against the needs they have identified in their five-ear strategies. Local authorities and their commissioning bodies determine these priorities locally and are expected to make investment decisions to deliver these priorities, which could include leaseholders. Funding for Supporting People beyond 2007-08 will be determined through the comprehensive spending review.
	We have been working with local authorities and housing associations to try to ensure that leaseholders are aware of the level of support they might receive from their local authority.

Right to Buy

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government have received in capital receipts for the sale of council houses sold in East Sussex under the Right to Buy legislation  (a) since the Right to Buy legislation was introduced and  (b) since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Central Government only began receiving housing receipts in 2004-05. Before then, with-debt local authorities were required instead to set aside a proportion of their housing receipts. The receipts set aside could only be used for the repayment of the authority's debt. From 2004-05 set-aside no longer applied to most housing receipts as the "pooling" regime was introduced, whereby local authorities paid over or "pooled" a proportion of those receipts to the Secretary of State to support housing investment across the country.
	The proportion of the capital receipt set aside or pooled is 75 per cent. for a dwelling and 50 per cent. for a non-dwelling asset. The local authority is free to use the remaining 25 per cent. or 50 per cent. respectively for any capital purpose they see fit.
	Data formally collected about amounts set aside and data collected about the value of receipts pooled by the Secretary of State do not separately identify the value of pooled capital receipts derived from houses. The data cover all housing pooled receipts. These include receipts arising from the sales of vacant housing land, shops, community centres, and garages that are on estates owned by local authorities.
	The total housing receipts pooled for the geographical county which includes Brighton and Hove city council since the introduction of pooling on 1 April 2004 is £22,654,183.36, and the total housing receipts pooled for the administrative county which excludes the city council £8,953,484.02.

Westfield

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what meetings  (a) she and  (b) Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of developers Westfield in the last 24 months;
	(2)  what meetings her predecessor had with representatives of Westfield while Secretary of State responsible for planning policy.

Yvette Cooper: Since Communities and Local Government was formed on 5 May 2006, there have been no meetings between Ministers and representatives of Westfield. We have no record of any such meetings before then.
	Continued from Column 868W

Clementi Report

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she intends to respond to the recommendations in the Clementi Report; and what measures she plans to put in place to promote the work of smaller firms of solicitors.

Bridget Prentice: Sir David Clementi published his final report in December 2004. At that time, the Government confirmed that they broadly accepted Sir David's recommendations. In October 2005, the Government published their White Paper "The Future of Legal Services: Putting Consumers First", which was essentially a substantive response to Sir David's Final Report. The Government subsequently introduced the Legal Services Bill to Parliament on 23 November 2006. While the Bill contains much more detail when compared to Sir David's original report, the proposals for the most part are based on Sir David's blueprint for reform.
	As part of reforming the regulatory framework for Legal Services in England and Wales, the Bill will make it possible for lawyers to provide their services in new ways. This will include lawyers forming partnerships or other business structures with other types of lawyers (eg solicitors and barristers) and with non-lawyers. External investment will also be possible. This will provide an opportunity for all firms to change their business structures to enable them to more effectively draw on non-legal expertise and external financing to modernise and improve their business systems and infrastructure. It could also provide smaller firms with new ways of reaching a wider consumer base, which could act as a means for those operating at the margins to become more efficient and compete more effectively with larger or more well established firms.

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many letters to her Department sent from hon. Members during Session 2005-06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are  (a) one,  (b) two, (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) over six months old;
	(2)  how many letters were received by her Department from hon. Members in each of the last 12 months; how many such letters were responded to within  (a) 10 and  (b) 20 days of receipt; how many were answered after 20 days from the date of receipt; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The information is not readily available in the format requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 75-78ws. Information relating to 2006 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready.

Court Televisions

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many courts have television displays available in the courtroom for video imagery and evidence to be used; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The information available to my Department on the number of courts that have television displays available in the courtrooms for video imagery and evidence to be viewed is a follows:
	All 78 main Crown court centres and 259 of the 344 magistrates courthouses have television displays available in the courtrooms that are capable of displaying video imagery and evidence. In addition, by the end of the financial year, all main Crown court centres and at least 260 magistrates courthouses will have the facilities to play DVDs in court.
	Video display equipment in civil courts is typically not centrally provided but purchased locally. The majority of large trial centre have video playback facilities and these are also usually available in family centres.

Departmental Hospitality

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how much the Lord Chancellor's Department spent on hospitality and entertainment in 1996 to 1997;
	(2)  what her Department's expenditure was on hospitality and entertainment in 2005-06.

Harriet Harman: For figures for ministerial expenditure on hospitality and entertainment in 1996-97, I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's answer of 9 February 1998 to the hon. Member for Rotherham,  Official Report, column 17W, which provides the global figure for Government expenditure on ministerial entertaining and hospitality for official purposes in 1996-97.
	Information is not readily available for civil servants for 1996-97 as the Department updated its accounting system in the summer of 1998 and the cost of retrieval from archive would be at disproportionate cost.
	Total expenditure (ministerial and civil servants) on hospitality and entertainment for the Department (formerly known as Lord Chancellor's Department), which covers costs for Her Majesty's Courts Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA headquarters in 2005-06 is £113,972.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety that is based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Publications: Translation

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of translating departmental publications into languages other than English was in 2005-06.

Vera Baird: The Department for Constitutional Affairs does not collect the information centrally and it could be given only at disproportionate cost. This Department is giving consideration to the routine collection of data relating to translating departmental publications into languages other than English.

Election Officials

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to review the upper age limit on working at a polling station or as an election count official in the light of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.

Bridget Prentice: There is no set upper age limit for being employed to work in a polling station or at an election count, and the Government have no plans to either review this, or to introduce any limit.
	The employment of election staff is a matter for individual returning officers.

Employment Law

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Government plan to restrict to members of the legal profession the ability to provide advice on employment law; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Government have no plan to restrict members of the legal profession the ability to provide advice on employment law matters.

FOI Fees

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish the representations her Department has received from the BBC on plans to change the regulations governing Freedom of Information Act fees.

Vera Baird: On 14 December 2006, the Government launched a public consultation on draft Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2007. The consultation closes on 8 March 2007.
	Representations made to my department in response to the plans to change the regulations governing Freedom of Information Act fees will be published following the conclusion of the consultation.

Jury Service

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of people given temporary exceptional leave to remain who have  (a) been called for and  (b) carried out jury service in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Information is not held in the format requested. However, to be summoned for jury service you must be registered to vote in parliamentary or local elections. This includes Commonwealth and European Union citizens. To be qualified for jury service you must also have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for any period of at least five years since attaining the age of 13.

Legal Aid

Dawn Butler: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department has made a recent assessment of  (a) any alternative fee systems and  (b) graduated fee systems for legal aid; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Lord Carter considered a range of remuneration systems for both civil and criminal legal aid in his report on the procurement of legal aid, "Legal Aid: A market-based approach to reform", published in July 2006. Following the public consultation on Lord Carter's proposals, the Government has accepted his recommendation that graduated fees should be used to remunerate Crown court litigation and advocacy, and will consider whether such a scheme should be introduced for magistrates' court work prior to the introduction of best value tendering.
	Early in 2007, the Legal Services Commission will re-consult on a revised Care Proceedings Graduated Fee Scheme, with a view to implementing the new scheme—apart from for advocacy—in October 2007. At the same time, the LSC will re-consult on a revised scheme for Family Help—Private, with a view to implementation in October 2007. Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) will be drawn up for the new schemes.

Legal Aid

Dawn Butler: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the introduction of fixed fees for legal aid on  (a) people from ethnic minorities,  (b) people with disabilities and  (c) young people.

Vera Baird: DCA and LSC recently published "Legal Aid Reform: the way ahead", which sets out our commitment to ensure a sustainable legal aid market is in place, with a quality assured service at the heart of our procurement strategy. It was accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) that made a full assessment of the impact of the introduction of fixed fees for criminal legal aid in the magistrates' court. It also covers the Tailored Fixed Fee (TFF) Replacement Scheme for civil legal aid work excluding family and mental health. Copies of both these documents can be found in the House Library and on both the DCA and LSC websites.
	The LSC will shortly be releasing a further consultation paper regarding the introduction of fixed fees for work in the police station. This will be accompanied by a draft RIA, which will be finalised following the publication of the LSC's response to consultation and will again make a full assessment of the impact of fixed fees in this area.

Legal Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which 10  (a) individual lawyers,  (b) firms and  (c) cases received the largest sums in legal aid in 2006; and what the sums were in each case.

Vera Baird: The information for the year of 2006 is not yet available. However, my Department and the Legal Services Commission are currently working on compiling the information for 2005-06, which will then be placed on my Department's website.

Magistrates

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2006 to the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones),  Official Report, column 343W, on magistrates, how many magistrates in the county of Cheshire do not live within their local justice area.

Harriet Harman: We do not record whether magistrates live in the Local Justice Area to which they are allocated. There are 471 magistrates in the six Local Justice Areas in Cheshire.
	52 magistrates live in the constituency of the City of Chester
	27 magistrates live in the constituency of Ellesmere Port and Neston
	49 magistrates live in the constituency of Eddisbury
	54 magistrates live in the constituency of Warrington South
	2 magistrates live in the constituency of Wirral South
	7 magistrates live in the constituency of Alyn and Deeside
	3 magistrates live in the constituency of Wallasey
	42 magistrates live in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Wrexham
	3 magistrates live in the constituency of Clwyd South
	39 magistrates live in the constituency of Tatton
	34 magistrates live in the constituency of Macclesfield
	33 magistrates live in the constituency of Congleton
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Cheadle
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Altrincham and Sale West
	33 magistrates live in the constituency of Weaver Vale
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Salford
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Knowsley South
	40 magistrates live in the constituency of Halton
	41 magistrates live in the constituency of Warrington North
	2 magistrates live in the constituency of St. Helens North
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of St. Helens South
	2 magistrates live in the constituency of Liverpool, Garsten
	1 magistrate lives in the constituency of Leigh
	1 is unknown due to incorrect postcode being recorded.
	Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace follow the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor's Directions when making recommendations for appointment to the magistracy. This provides guidance that each Local Justice Area should broadly reflect the community it serves including geographical spread.

Magistrates

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what her objective justification is under the Employment Directive 2000/78/EC for section 13 (1) of the Courts Act 2003 which transfers magistrates onto the supplemental list at the age of 70 years;
	(2)  what her objective justification is under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 for refusing to appoint magistrates aged over 65 years.

Harriet Harman: The new age regulations provide that discrimination will not be unlawful if it is undertaken in order to comply with a requirement of any statutory provision. The retirement age for magistrates is set at 70 by s.13(l) of the Courts Act 2003. Therefore, moving magistrates on to the supplemental list at age 70 does not constitute unlawful age discrimination under the Regulations.
	Magistrates sit in a part-time capacity and generally have little previous experience of the court system, so will require training, mentoring and the opportunity to gain experience. The Lord Chancellor would normally expect that part-time magistrates will be able to sit for at least five years before retirement, and he will therefore not normally appoint anyone over the age of 65.

Magistrates Courts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what changes were made to magistrates' training  (a) within the last 12 months and  (b) in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The only significant change to magistrates training in the last 12 months is that in April 2006 the Lord Chief Justice assumed responsibility from the Lord Chancellor for magistrates' training.
	In 1997 each of the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCC) in England and Wales were responsible for the training of magistrates in their area, subject to guidance from the Judicial Studies Board (JSB).
	In 1999 the "Magistrates' New Training Initiative" introduced a competence framework and appraisal scheme for all magistrates.
	In 2002 Bench Training and Development Committees (BTDC), were introduced by the "Justices of the Peace (Size and Chairmanship of Bench) Rules 2002" to replace the Bench Chairmanship Committee, with statutory responsibility for overseeing the training and appraisal of court chairmen plus a number of other training responsibilities.
	In 2003 the "Magistrates National Training Initiative" was introduced. This refined the competence framework for magistrates; set a training syllabus for magistrates in all their jurisdictions, recommended a standard national practice for the mentoring and appraisal of magistrates; and provided guidance to BTDCs on their training functions.
	In 2005 training became compulsory for magistrates before they were permitted to undertake certain functions, the Lord Chancellor was required to provide training material for those compulsory courses and the JSB assumed a strengthened role in magistrate training.
	The 2005 Rules also created Magistrates' Area Training Committees (MATC). MATCs are responsible for agreeing the annual training plan for magistrates in their area and monitoring and evaluating its implementation.
	In 2005 the JSB and Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) agreed a "Minimum Protocol for The Provision of Magistrates' Training". This ensures that HMCS provides sufficient resources to allow magistrates to fulfil their minimum training requirements. That Protocol is renegotiated annually.

Magistrates Courts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training is provided to  (a) prospective and  (b) sitting magistrates.

Harriet Harman: Before being allowed to sit in court the newly appointed magistrate undertakes an initial training session of three hours to introduce him/her to the bench and its organisation. This is followed by a minimum of three days training covering such topics as the jurisdiction of magistrates; judicial decision making; case management and preliminary decisions; summary trial; evidence and determining guilt or innocence; sentencing; and enforcement of court orders. This training input is supplemented by court observations. In addition newly appointed magistrates are required to visit penal establishments and these visits are normally completed within the first year of sitting. The newly appointed magistrate's learning and development is supported by a mentor scheme. Approximately 12 months after beginning to sit in court he/she will attend a further 12 hours consolidation training. Following this an appraisal will take place to identify if the magistrate has any outstanding training needs.
	Although training provision varies across different court areas in England and Wales in response to local training needs, all sitting magistrates are required to undertake a minimum of six hours training every three years. In addition magistrates are provided with extra initial and continuation training if they hold additional responsibilities, for example if they sit in the Youth Court or Family Proceedings Court. Additional training is also provided if there is major legislative change, for example to support the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. On an annual basis Her Majesty's Court Service and the Judicial Studies Board agree a national minimum training provision for all magistrates to ensure appropriate resources are available to support magistrates training.

Mental Health Guidance

Frank Field: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs for what reasons the Mental Health guide was withdrawn from the Legal Services Commission's Improving Quality Guides; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has withdrawn the Mental Health 'Improving Your Quality' guide following feedback from the profession. This is an independent guide, written by the Mental Health peer review panel. The LSC has facilitated the development, but is not a contributor. The LSC is working with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and peer reviewers to provide more appropriate wording. The LSC hopes to reissue an amended Mental Health guide in the near future.

Public Defender Service

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Public Defender Service cost in each year since inception; how many  (a) qualified lawyers and  (b) other staff the service has employed in the same period; how many cases the Public Defender Service has handled in the same period; and what the average cost was per case.

Vera Baird: The costs of the Public Defender Service, the number of cases handled, the number of lawyers and other staff are given in the following table. Figures on average case costs for each of the years since the inception of the PDS are not available. However, average case costs for 2001-02 to 2003-04 are available in the independent report, "Evaluation of the Public Defender Services in England and Wales" (Table 5.7a p216). A copy of this report is available on the Commission's website at the following address:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/pds/Public_Defenders_Report_PDFVersion6.pdf
	
		
			   2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03  2001-02 
			 Cost (£) 4,329,567 4,122,211 3,784,156 3,478,243 2,824,531 
			 Number of lawyers 50 48 52 39 27 
			 Other staff 28 27 23.4 23 15 
			 Number of cases opened in year 5,886 4,634 4,291 3,849 1,710

Public Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how soon after the transfer of the 1911 census records for England and Wales to the National Archives the Keeper of Public Records will have a duty to make arrangements for the release of that census under section 5(3) of the Public Records Act 1958.

Vera Baird: The transfer of the 1911 census records to the Public Record Office took place in 1966. Access to specific information in this census was subject to an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act and the Information Commissioner's decision was published on 12 December 2006. The chief executive of the National Archives is making arrangements to provide access to non-personally sensitive information.

Special Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether special advisers in her Department have made use of an official car in the last 12 months, excluding travel when accompanying a minister.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Ladyman) on 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1063W.

Supreme Court

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made towards the creation of a supreme court.

Harriet Harman: Plans for the renovation of the Middlesex Guildhall on Parliament Square have been developed by renowned conservation architects Feilden and Mawson in consultation with the existing Law Lords, Westminster city council and English Heritage. The City and Planning Committee of Westminster city council unanimously agreed to grant planning and listed building consent, which was granted in full on 21 November 2006. We are in final negotiations with Kier Group Plc, our preferred bidder to carry out the renovations.
	Substantial progress is also being made on the creation of the court as a new and independent organisation such as streamlining business processes, developing a finance structure and supporting the Law Lords consultation on the Supreme Court rules.
	The DCA is on target to deliver the Supreme Court in October 2009.

Trade Union Funding

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what funding her Department has given to individual trade unions in the last three years.

Bridget Prentice: My Department has not provided any funding to individual trade unions in the last three years. We do however, in line with statutory rights and along with other civil service Departments provide reasonable time off for carrying out trade union duties.

Administration Costs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to table five on page 153 of his Department's departmental report 2006, what the Department's administration costs for  (a) children,  (b) working age,  (c) pensioners and  (d) disabled people were in each year since 1996-97.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. The first departmental report produced for the Department was in 2002 (Cm5424). The earliest year included was 1998-99. Therefore data are not available in the format requested for all years from 1996-97.
	Table 1 summarises administration costs for the areas requested for the years 2000-01 to 2007-08.
	Table 2 summarises administration costs for the areas requested for the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
	The information has been extracted from the latest available departmental report for each year.
	
		
			  Table 1 Administration costs 2000-01 to 2007-08 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   Outturn  Outturn  Outturn  Outturn  Outturn  Estimated outturn  Plans  Plans 
			 Children 248 250 293 249 256 394 408 402 
			 Working age 3,819 2,668 2,339 2,387 2,501 2,721 2,588 2,598 
			 Pensioners — 219 419 484 571 623 641 507 
			 Disability — 1 — 172 167 198 219 198 
			 Corporate and Shared Services 280 1,692 2,556 2,657 2,493 2,000 1,975 2,089 
			 Total administration 4,347 4,830 5,607 5,949 5,988 5,936 5,831 5,794 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 Administration costs 1998-99 to 1999-2000 
			  Outturn 
			   1998-99  1999-2000 
			 Children 225 225 
			 Working Age 1,695 1,694 
			 Pensions 255 255 
			 Disability 137 137 
			 Corporate and Shared Services 1,780 1,779 
			 Total administration 4,092 4,090 
			  Notes: 1. The administration costs for previous years have been adjusted to take into account the restructuring of the Department. 2. It is important to note that the analysis of the administration budget for children, working age, pensioners and disabled people in Table 5 excludes the cost of Corporate and Shared Services, these are shown separately in the same table. All figures provided for years prior to the formation of The Department of Work and Pensions were determined on the basis of the expenditure incurred by each of the various business areas brought together by the Machinery of Government changes in 2001. Analysis of administration data in this format is not available prior to 1998-99. 3. Table 5 from the Departmental Report for 2005 (Cm6539) contains the most recent analysis of administration costs for the year 1999-2000, and Table 5 from the Departmental Report for 2004 (Cm6221) contains the most recent analysis of administration costs for 1998-99. As these analyses will only have been adjusted for the structure of the Department that existed at the time the relevant departmental report was issued, they will not be directly comparable with Table 5 in the departmental report for 2006.  Sources: Department Report 2006 (Cm6829) Department Report 2005 (Cm6539) Departmental Report 2004 (Cm6221)

Care Homes

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will make an estimate of the number of homes sold in 2005-06 to fund care-home residency.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	Information about the sale of property to pay for residential care is not collected centrally. Local authorities also may not know if this has happened, for example where a person sells a property and arranges their care privately without involving social services. It is not, therefore, possible to estimate the number of homes that may have been sold for this purpose.
	However, the Government have taken steps to help people avoid having to sell their homes during their lifetime to pay for residential care. Since October 2001 councils have been able to enter into a deferred payments agreement. The aim is to allow people with property, but without income and other assets sufficient to meet their assessed financial contribution to the cost of residential care, to have a legal charge placed on their property to meet any shortfall. This gives people more options for meeting care home fees.

Carers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's total expenditure on carers was each year since 1990-91 in  (a) cash terms and  (b) real terms using 2004-05 prices; what the planned expenditure is in 2006-07 in the same terms; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Great Britain—Cash terms 
			  £ million 
			   Status  (a) Carer's allowance  (b) Income support—received by carers  (c) Income support / pension credit—carer premium over-60s  (d) Income support—carer premiums received by other income support recipients under-60s  Total expenditure on carers 
			 1990-91 outturn 208 9 1 4 222 
			 1991-92 outturn 285 18 3 9 315 
			 1992-93 outturn 345 50 5 19 419 
			 1993-94 outturn 442 57 7 29 535 
			 1994-95 outturn 526 73 11 43 653 
			 1995-96 outturn 617 97 14 56 784 
			 1996-97 outturn 736 111 17 67 931 
			 1997-98 outturn 746 118 20 66 950 
			 1998-99 outturn 782 116 21 69 988 
			 1999-2000 outturn 835 118 24 72 1,049 
			 2000-01 outturn 867 126 26 76 1,095 
			 2001-02 outturn 932 172 51 106 1,261 
			 2002-03 outturn 993 182 63 118 1,356 
			 2003-04 outturn 1,054 201 81 128 1,464 
			 2004-05 outturn 1,096 202 130 132 1,560 
			 2005-06 estimated outturn 1,149 173 178 132 1,632 
			 2006-07 plans 1,201 180 205 145 1,731 
			  Note:  Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	
		
			  Great Britain—Real terms, at 2004-05 prices 
			  £ million 
			   Status  (a) Carer's allowance  (b) Income support—received by carers  (c) Income support / pension credit—carer premium over-60s  (d) Income support—carer premiums received by other income support recipients under-60s  Total expenditure on carers 
			 1990-91 outturn 308 13 1 6 329 
			 1991-92 outturn 398 25 4 13 440 
			 1992-93 outturn 467 68 7 26 567 
			 1993-94 outturn 583 75 9 38 705 
			 1994-95 outturn 683 95 14 56 848 
			 1995-96 outturn 778 122 18 71 988 
			 1996-97 outturn 897 135 21 82 1,135 
			 1997-98 outturn 884 140 24 78 1,125 
			 1998-99 outturn 903 134 24 80 1,141 
			 1999-2000 outturn 946 134 27 82 1,188 
			 2000-01 outturn 968 141 29 85 1,223 
			 2001/02 outturn 1,017 188 56 116 1,376 
			 2002-03 outturn 1,051 193 67 125 1,435 
			 2003-04 outturn 1,083 207 83 132 1,504 
			 2004-05 outturn 1,096 202 130 132 1,560 
			 2005-06 estimated outturn 1,128 170 175 130 1,602 
			 2006-07 plans 1,148 172 196 139 1,654 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure on carers has been interpreted to include the following: a. total carer's allowance expenditure; b. total income support expenditure who are entitled to income support by virtue of being a carer. People who are unemployed, lone parents or disabled and who also receive a carer premium are counted in column d. The figures quoted include people who were unemployed and entitled to income support prior to the introduction of income based jobseeker's allowance in October 1996; c. carer premium entitlement for people in receipt of income support (for people over 60 years of age) and pension credit; d. expenditure on the carer premium for carers who are on income support by virtue of being unemployed, lone parents or disabled.  2. Income support carer expenditure [(b) in the tables] has been estimated using caseload and average weekly amount data.  3. Pension credit and income support expenditure [(c) and (d) in the tables] has been estimated using caseloads and carer premium rates.  4. Carer premium expenditure has been quoted in full. It has not been reduced, or offset, by any income received by the beneficiary of the benefit.  5. The income support carer premium was introduced in October 1990. The first caseload information was collected in May 1991, so the income support expenditure quoted in the tables has been estimated using administration data for 1991-92.  6. All figures have been rounded to the nearest million pounds.  7. Expenditure is consistent with the 2006 pre-Budget report.  8. Carer's allowance replaced invalid care allowance on 1 April 2003.  9. Pension credit replaced income support, for people over 60 years of age, on 5 October 2003.  10. DWP expenditure tables, which will soon be updated to be consistent with the 2006 pre-Budget report, can be viewed at the following web address: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp 11. Totals may not sum due to rounding.   Source:  DWP expenditure tables, departmental accounting systems, 5 per cent. samples of departmental administrative records and the Department's expenditure forecasting models.

Child Support Agency

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many DNA tests were carried out on behalf of the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 15 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many DNA tests were carried out on behalf of the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years.
	This information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of DNA tests carried out on behalf of the Child Support Agency 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 2,346 
			 2002-03 4,146 
			 2003-04 2,444 
			 2004-05 2,888 
			 2005-06 2,244 
		
	
	I hope this information is helpful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many Child Support Agency cases were  (a) outstanding and  (b) unprocessed in (i) Yeovil and (ii) Somerset in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many Child Support Agency cases in  (a) Somerset and  (b) Yeovil constituency were (i) outstanding and (ii) unprocessed in each year from 1997 to 2006.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 15 January 12006:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the secretary of state for work and pensions two related questions:
	How many child support agency cases were (a) outstanding and (b) unprocessed in (i) Yeovil and (ii) Somerset in each year since 1997.
	How many child support agency cases were (a) outstanding and (b) unprocessed in each year from 1997 to 2006 in (i) Somerset and (ii) Yeovil constituency.
	The agency begins to process new applications as soon as they are received and continues until they have been cleared. Any applications that have not yet been cleared can be regarded as outstanding. The amount of work required to achieve clearance and the elapsed time it involves varies considerably depending on, amongst other things, the circumstances of the parents and how readily they cooperate with the agency.
	As such, the agency holds only a negligible number of completely unprocessed cases and it is not possible to allocate these to individual constituencies.
	With regard to part (a), the agency can only provide the information requested for applications (both new and old scheme) operating on the new computer system (CS2). Therefore this is not representative of the overall trend and volumes of the total amount of uncleared applications at the geographical level requested. Please see the attached table.
	It should be noted that there are always applications for which the agency cannot assign a county or a constituency, either because they had been received directly via Jobcentre Plus and had not reached the point in the process at which details on the constituency of the parent with care can be identified, or because the application is on the old computer system from which it is not possible to provide robust estimates at the geographical level requested. In September 2006, there were around 70,000 such applications.
	For future reference, it should be noted that information relating to the number of uncleared applications on the new computer system in September 2006 in each parliamentary constituency is publicly available, and can be found in table 27 of the September 2006 Child Support Agency 'Quarterly Summary of Statistics', a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet via the following link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_ support/CSA_quarterly_sep06.asp
	Although the total volume of uncleared applications nationally across both schemes, 247,500 in September 2006, is the lowest since comparable records began, the agency recognises that this remains unacceptably high. The agency therefore has a 2006-07 target to ensure that, by march 2007, the volume of new scheme uncleared applications outstanding at March 2006 is reduced by 25 per cent. and our challenge, as set down in our operational improvement plan, is that the agency should not have a backlog in this area by March 2009. I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Number of uncleared applications in the parliamentary constituency of Yeovil from September 2003 to September 2006 (both new and old scheme applications on the new computer system only). 
			  Yeovil  Number 
			 September 2003 70 
			 September 2004 230 
			 September 2005 260 
			 September 2006 210 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of uncleared applications from September 2003 to September 2006 in the county of Somerset and neighbouring unitary authorities (both new and old scheme applications on the new computer system only) 
			  Local Authority  September 2003  September 2004  September 2005  September 2006 
			 Mendip 90 190 260 220 
			 Sedgemoor 100 270 410 230 
			 South Somerset 100 310 340 280 
			 Taunton Deane 90 240 250 230 
			 West Somerset 20 70 70 70 
			 Total 4000 1,070 1,330 1,030

Departmental Equipment

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's  (a) computers and  (b) laptops were stolen in each of the last nine years; and what the total value was of stolen computers and laptops in this period.

Anne McGuire: The following table shows the number of  (a) computers and  (b) laptops that were recorded as stolen in each of the last nine years from April 1998 to date. Information prior to 1998 is not readily available.
	
		
			   Number of computers stolen  Number of laptops stolen 
			 1998 0 3 
			 1999 12 5 
			 2000 4 3 
			 2001 5 16 
			 2002 34 23 
			 2003 5 35 
			 2004 27 40 
			 2005 10 27 
			 2006 2 10 
			  Note: The total value is not available.

Health and Safety Executive

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inspectors were employed by the Health and Safety Executive in each year between 1996 and 2006; and how many are expected to be employed in the years  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09.

Anne McGuire: The reply is in the following table. The number of inspectors HSE expects to employ in 2007-08 and 2008-09 is an estimate depending on turnover and recruitment.
	
		
			  At 1 April  Number of inspectors( 1) 
			 1996 1,466 
			 1997 1,442 
			 1998 1,437 
			 1999 1,497 
			 2000 1,507 
			 2001 1,534 
			 2002 1,625 
			 2003 1,651 
			 2004 1,605 
			 2005 1,530 
			 2006 (2)1,444 
			 2007(3) 1,438 
			 2008(3) 1,417 
			 2009(4) (5)— 
			 (1) All figures are for full-time equivalents, rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) The number excludes 95 inspectors (full-time equivalents) that moved from HSE to the Office of Rail Regulation when responsibility for rail regulation health and safety matters transferred on 1 April 2006. 3 Estimated number based on HSE's staffing plan at November 2006. (4) HSE's staffing plan covers the period to March 2008. The Department for Work and Pensions will be discussing budget allocations for 2008-2011 with HSE over the coming weeks. An estimate of the number of inspectors at 1 April 2009 cannot therefore be provided at this time. (5 )Not applicable.

HSE Campaign

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total cost was of the recent Health and Safety Executive campaign targeting  (a) back pain and  (b) tripping accidents;
	(2)  what the total cost was of the recent Health and Safety Executive campaign to manage work-related stress.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executives initiatives on back pain, slips and trips and work-related stress are designed to contribute to the revitalising health and safety targets to reduce work-related ill health and sickness absence.
	The "Better Backs" marketing campaign cost £2.5 million overall. This included the cost of advertising—in the national and trade press, on radio, online and outdoor—plus the funding of "Better Backs" publicity events, production of information packs, and research and evaluation costs.
	The "Watch Your Step" campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the causes and costs of slips and trips accidents at work, cost £1.7 million on advertising and event organisation.
	For work-related stress, the current series of 'Healthy Workplace Solutions' workshops has a predicted final cost of £627,000. This includes the cost of sending invitations to employers, processing responses, venue hire and speaker costs.

HSE Campaign

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost was of the recent Health and Safety Executive Fit Out Phase campaign.

Anne McGuire: The "Fit Out" campaign in October 2005, involved targeted national inspections looking specifically at the issues of low falls and housekeeping at construction projects that were approaching completion. This activity was supported by the production of a campaign poster and campaign infosheet.
	Inspections were carried out largely within normal working hours incurring few additional staff costs.
	Production and distribution of posters and infosheets cost £5,000.

HSE and HSC Litigation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many accidents have taken place on the premises of  (a) the Health and Safety Executive and  (b) the Health and Safety Commission since May 1997.

Anne McGuire: The number of accidents for the years requested are set out in the following table. The Health and Safety Commission has no premises separately from HSE.
	
		
			   Number of RIDDOR accidents( 1)  on HSE premises 
			 1997-98(2) (3)n/a 
			 1998-99 n/a 
			 1999-2000 n/a 
			 2000-01 n/a 
			 2001-02 n/a 
			 2002-03 n/a 
			 2003-04 10 
			 2004-05 17 
			 2005-06 13 
			 2006 to present (December 2006) 6 
			 (1) This includes all accidents HSE is required to report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. (2) For years 1997-2004 the primary source of information is the HSE annual health and safety report. The amount and substance of incident data in this report varies from year to year. After 2004-05 the data comes from records held in HSE's Human Resources department. (3) For 1997-98 to 2002-03 it has not been possible to identify the number of accidents causing injury occurring on HSE premises, as the report forms used did not always indicate the location of the accident.

HSE and HSC Litigation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many accidents involving members of  (a) the Health and Safety Executive and  (b) the Health and Safety Commission have taken place since May 1997.

Anne McGuire: The number of accidents to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) staff for the years requested are set out in the following table.
	I am not aware of any accidents to members of the Health and Safety Commission while engaged on HSC business. The health and safety incident rates are low when compared to other organisations engaged in the type of work that HSE is involved in.
	
		
			   Number of RIDDOR accidents( 1)  to HSE staff 
			 1997-98(2) 13 
			 1998-99 7 
			 1999-2000 5 
			 2000-01 11 
			 2001-02 10 
			 2002-03 10 
			 2003-04 10 
			 2004-05 16 
			 2005-06 9 
			 2006 to present (December 2006) 5 
			 (1) This includes all accidents HSE is required to report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. (2) For years 1997-2004 the primary source of information is the HSE annual health and safety report. The amount and substance of incident data in this report varies from year to year. After 2004-05 the data comes from records held in HSE's Human Resources department.

Incapacity Benefit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) 18 to 29, (ii) 30 to 39, (iii) 40 to 49 and (iv) 50 to 59 and  (c) males aged 60 to 65 have claimed incapacity benefit in each of the last seven years.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit claimants by age and gender, Great Britain:  May 2000 to 2006 
			  As at May:  Female  Male 
			  2000   
			 18-29 102,250 131,860 
			 30-39 165,070 232,510 
			 40-49 231,940 287,370 
			 50-59 367,230 474,440 
			 60-65 970 353,280 
			  2001   
			 18-29 103,130 137,910 
			 30-39 172,040 245,710 
			 40-49 243,270 298,040 
			 50-59 386,210 482,180 
			 60-65 620 345,950 
			  2002   
			 18-29 112,200 149,470 
			 30-39 175,370 250,790 
			 40-49 252,820 304,470 
			 50-59 398,060 478,010 
			 60-65 540 337,260 
			  2003   
			 18-29 116,740 154,790 
			 30-39 177,700 254,300 
			 40-49 262,200 311,850 
			 50-59 407,240 472,030 
			 60-65 440 326,490 
			  2004   
			 18-29 121,260 159,380 
			 30-39 177,910 253,320 
			 40-49 270,900 318,040 
			 50-59 415,520 463,370 
			 60-65 310 318,170 
			  2005   
			 18-29 124,500 159,720 
			 30-39 173,450 245,610 
			 40-49 276,620 320,770 
			 50-59 418,990 451,930 
			 60-65 260 309,390 
			  2006   
			 18-29 124,860 157,810 
			 30-39 167,360 233,700 
			 40-49 279,320 319,770 
			 50-59 418,990 439,540 
			 60-65 150 300,750 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Although in general incapacity benefit applies to people of working age, a small number of claimants are over State pension age. 3. Claimants' include all IB claimants, including credits only cases.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Incapacity Benefit

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Eastbourne constituency are in receipt of incapacity benefit; and how many of these people have been in receipt of incapacity benefit for  (a) up to one year,  (b) one to two years,  (c) two to five years and  (d) over five years.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants in Eastbourne—May 2006 
			   Number 
			 All IB/SDA 4,400 
			 Up to one year 660 
			 One to two years 390 
			 Two to five years 1,000 
			 Five years and over 2,350 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus offices had their opening hours reduced in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available; and which offices had such reductions in the last  (a) six, (b) 12,  (c) 24 and  (d) 48 months, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 15 January 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus offices have had their opening hours reduced in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available; and which offices had such reductions in the last 6, 12, 24, and 48 months, broken down by parliamentary constituency. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	A total of 97 Jobcentre Plus sites have had a reduction in opening hours in the last eight quarters to September 2006. A total of 123 Jobcentre Plus sites have had a reduction in opening hours in the four years to September 2006. It is not possible to provide information broken down by parliamentary constituency, as it is gathered at a Jobcentre Plus District level. The information available is set out in the attached table, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Annex A: number of Jobcentre Pus sites where opening hours have been reduced during the last six, 12, 24 and 48 months to September 2006 broken down by district 
			  Jobcentre Plus—offices operating reduced opening hours 
			Months 
			  Region  District  0 to six  seven to 12  13 to 24  25 to 48 
			 London — 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 Scotland — 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 North East — 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 East of England Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0 1 1 0 
			  Cambridge and Suffolk 6 0 0 0 
			  Essex 0 0 1 0 
			  Norfolk 1 1 1  
			   
			 Yorkshire and the Humber North East Yorkshire and the Humber 0 0 3 0 
			  South Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 
			  West Yorkshire 0 0 1 4 
			   
			 West Midlands Staffordshire 0 0 0 1 
			  Marches 0 0 2 0 
			 North West Greater Manchester East and West 0 0 1 0 
			  Greater Mersey 0 0 0 1 
			  Cheshire and Warrington 0 0 0 4 
			   
			 East Midlands Derbyshire 1 0 0 2 
			  Nottinghamshire 2 3 1 0 
			  Leicestershire and Northampton 1 0 0 0 
			   
			 South East Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire 0 15 0 0 
			  Hampshire and Isle of Wight 0 0 19 6 
			  Kent 0 0 2 0 
			   
			 South West Devon and Cornwall 0 2 9 3 
			  Dorset and Somerset 0 2 6 0 
			   
			 Wales South East Wales 1 0 1 1 
			  South West Wales 0 3 0 0 
			  South Wales Valleys 0 0 4 2 
			  North and Mid Wales 0 0 6 1 
			   
			 Total — 12 27 58 26

Maternity Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many women in the UK were entitled to maternity allowance in each year since 2001-02; and what estimate he has made of the future take-up rates;
	(2)  how many women in the UK received maternity allowance in each year since 2001-02; and what estimate he has made of the likely number in each year from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Awards of maternity allowance 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 51,000 
			 2002-03 51,000 
			 2003-04 57,000 
			 2004-05 63,000 
			 2005-06 66,000 
			 2006-07 70,000 
			 2007-08 74,000 
			  Notes: 1. The figures for maternity allowance up to 2003-04 are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the maternity allowance computer system. The figures from 2004-05 onwards are forecasts. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. 3. In line with HM Treasury expenditure planning cycles, forecasts of benefit case load and expenditure are not currently available beyond 2007-08.

Maternity Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual cost in nominal terms of statutory maternity pay in the UK was in each year since 2001-02; and what estimate he has made of the likely costs in each year from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Statutory maternity pay, Great Britain 
			   £ million (nominal terms) 
			 2001-02 636 
			 2002-03 724 
			 2003-04 1,233 
			 2004-05 1,291 
			 2005-06 1,243 
			 2006-07 1,268 
			 2007-08 1,595 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are consistent with pre-Budget report 2006, which shows Total Managed Expenditure to 2007-08, and are for Great Britain. 2. Figures are out-turn to 2005-06 are estimated out-turn for 2006-07 and are plans for 2007-08. 3. Benefit expenditure in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland office.  Source: DWP Benefit Expenditure Tables. The DWP expenditure tables can be viewed on the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp

Maternity Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in the UK received statutory maternity pay in each year since 2001-02; and what estimate he has made of the likely number in each year from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Awards of statutory maternity pay per annum 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 344,000 
			 2002-03 361,000 
			 2003-04 375,000 
			 2004-05 412,000 
			 2005-06 409,000 
			 2006-07 411,000 
			 2007-08 414,000 
			  Notes 1. Statutory maternity pay is paid and administered by employers. The figures from 2004-05 onwards are forecasts. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000.  Source: Figures up to 2003-04 are based on a 1 per cent. sample of national insurance records. 
		
	
	Benefit case load and expenditure forecasts are currently not made available publicly past 2007-08. Expenditure plans and case load forecasts for 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be released as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Mental Health

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role was played by Mind in the development by his Department of the two-day learning event for advisers on working with customers with a mental illness referred to in the answer of 31 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 263-64W, on Jobcentre Plus; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what role was played by MIND in the development by his Department of the two-day learning event for advisers on working with customers with a mental illness referred to in the Answer of 31st October 2006, Official Report, columns 263-4W, on Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within my responsibilities as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus works with a range of partners including MIND in the development of training materials to support the implementation of the Jobcentre Plus Incapacity Benefit Adviser role. The 'Working with Customers with a Health Condition or Disability' training product was developed for staff and sent to MIND for their quality assurance prior to release.

Oil and Gas Industry

Frank Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) lost time accidents and  (b) fatal accidents there were in the oil and gas industry in the UK Continental Shelf in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is set out in the following table and is taken from Health and Safety Executive's published Health and Safety Statistics.
	
		
			   Fatalities  Lost-time injuries 
			 1995-96 5 417 
			 1996-97 2 346 
			 1997-98 3 365 
			 1998-99 1 319 
			 1999-2000 2 246 
			 2000-01 3 330 
			 2001-02 3 234 
			 2002-03 0 184 
			 2003-04 3 151 
			 2004-05 0 152 
			 2005-06(1) 2 175 
			 (1) 2005-06 figures are provisional.

Pension Credit

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take up rate is of pension credit in Wimbledon.

James Purnell: The information is not available in the format requested. Estimates of eligibility, and therefore of take-up, are not available below the level of Great Britain.
	The latest estimates of the number of pensioners in Great Britain entitled to pension credit were published in "Pension Credit Estimates of Take-Up in 2004/2005". A copy of the report is available in the Library.
	Actual figures for receipt of pension credit at constituency level are available. As at August 2006 2,280 households in Wimbledon were receiving pension credit.
	 Notes:
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the 2005 postcode directory.
	4. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source:
	DWP 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (CMS) Pension Credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.

Pension Credit

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) new thresholds will be for the savings credit element of pension credit for April and  (b) maximum levels of income will be above which pensioners would not gain from pension savings credit for (i) single people and (ii) couples; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: On 7 December 2006 I announced the proposed benefit rates for 2007. The full list of provisional benefit rates were set out in the Secretary of State's written statement on 11 December 2006. The 2007 rates will remain provisional until the Social Security Up-rating Order 2007 has been cleared by Parliament.
	The provisional savings credit threshold figures from April 2007 are £87.30 for single people and £139.60 for couples. The provisional rates will allow for single people to have up to around £167 and couples to have up to around £245 and still qualify for Pension Credit savings credit. If someone is severely disabled or a carer or has certain housing costs they may have higher levels of income and still qualify for Pension Credit.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will disaggregate the cost of basic state pension reforms, as shown in figure 9 of the Pensions White Paper, Security in Retirement: Towards a New Pension System, to show the  (a) (i) gross and (ii) net costs of saving from increasing the basic state pension in line with earnings from 2012 on existing qualifying criteria,  (b) changes to qualifying criteria and  (c) changes to adult dependency increases proposed in the White Paper.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1997-98W.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the combined value of basic state pension and state second pension payments at the point of retirement for an average earner with a full contribution record reaching state pension age in each year from 2010  (a) under current policies and  (b) if the reforms in the Pensions White Papers Security in Retirement: Towards a New Pension System, are implemented.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1998-2000W.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what proportion of pensioner benefit units, including those with sufficient income not to qualify for pension credit, will face in 2050 an average rate of pension credit withdrawal on any income from sources other than the basic state pension that is  (a) 40 per cent.,  (b) 41 to 50 per cent.,  (c) 51 to 60 per cent.,  (d) 61 to 70 per cent.,  (e) 71 to 80 per cent.,  (f) 81 to 90 per cent.,  (g) 91 to 99 per cent. and  (h) 100 per cent., if the reforms proposed in the Pensions White Paper, Security in Retirement: Towards a New Pensions System, are implemented;
	(2)  if he will estimate the proportion of pensioner benefit units, including those with sufficient income not to qualify for pension credit, that would face in 2050 an average rate of pension credit withdrawal on any income from sources other than the basic state pension that is  (a) 40 per cent.,  (b) 41 to 50 per cent.,  (c) 51 to 60 per cent.,  (d) 61 to 70 per cent.,  (e) 71 to 80 per cent.,  (f) 81 to 90 per cent.,  (g) 91 to 99 per cent. and  (h) 100 per cent., if current uprating policies are continued indefinitely.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 2001-02W.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down the cost of pension credit reforms listed in figure 9 of the Pensions White Paper into  (a) the cost of uprating the guarantee credit in line with earnings from 2008-09 and  (b) the savings generated by proposed reforms to the savings credit.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 2002W.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether an estimate has been made of the cost of compensating those identified in the Ombudsman's report Trusting in the Pensions Promise taking into account the resulting reduction in  (a) pension credit,  (b) council tax benefit and  (c) housing benefit payable to those compensated.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1997W.

Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) pensioners and  (b) children in Coventry have been lifted out of poverty since 1997.

James Purnell: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2004-05", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The data source does not allow us to provide robust numbers for estimates below a regional level. Therefore estimates for Coventry are not available. Instead, information on the numbers of pensioners and children in households with low incomes, in Great Britain in 1996-97 and 2004-05 and the west midlands Government office region in 1995-96 to 1997-98 and 2002-03 to 2004-05, are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Estimates are shown both before and after housing costs.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of pensioners living in low income households (millions): 1996-97 and 2004-05 
			   Great Britain  West midlands 
			  After housing costs   
			 1996-97 2.78 — 
			 2004-05 1.77 — 
			 Change in number in low income -1.01 — 
			
			  After housing costs   
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 — 0.25 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 — 0.21 
			 Change in number in low income — -0.04 
			 Notes: 1. Numbers, for the west midlands region, are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with any previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, moving averages will show less variation than single-year estimates. 2. The Great Britain figure is for a single year. 3. The table shows number of pensioners in millions, rounded to nearest 10,000. 4. In this answer low income is determined for pensioners as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median. 5. Figures may not sum, due to rounding. Source: Family Resources Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:Number of children living in low income households (millions): 1996-97 and 2004-05 
			   Great Britain  West midlands 
			  Before housing costs   
			 1996-97 3.17 — 
			 2004-05 2.44 — 
			 Change in number in low income -0.72 — 
			  After housing costs   
			 1996-97 4.23 — 
			 2004-05 3.42 — 
			 Change in number in low income -0.81 — 
			
			  Before housing costs   
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 — 0.33 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 — 0.28 
			 Change in number in low income — -0.04 
			  After housing costs   
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 — 0.40 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 — 0.36 
			 Change in number in low income — -0.05 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers, for the west midlands region, are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with any previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, moving averages will show less variation than single-year estimates. 2. The Great Britain figure is for a single year. 3. The table shows number of children in millions, rounded to the nearest 10,000. 4. In this answer low income is determined for pensioners as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median. 5. Figures may not sum, due to rounding.  Source: Family Resources Survey

Predictive Dialling Technology

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which contractors his Department employs who use predictive dialling technology; how many calls using predictive dialling technology were made on behalf of his Department by each such contractor in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those calls were abandoned.

James Purnell: holding answer 20 November 2006
	Within DWP the only business area that uses predictive dialling is Debt Management. The following debt collection agencies have been contracted to Debt Management: Eversheds, Commercial Collections Services Ltd. (CCSL), Legal and Trade and the Lewis Group.
	Please see the following table, which includes available data:
	
		
			   May to October 2006 
			Calls abandoned( 1)  as a result of predictive dialling 
			  Name of contractor  Number of calls using predictive dialling  Number  Percentage 
			 Eversheds 27,476 336 1.2 
			 Commercial Collections Services Ltd. (CCSL) 9,530 156 1.6 
			 Legal and Trade 132,858 4,002 3.0 
			 The Lewis Group(2) n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = not available (1) Abandoned calls refers to those calls where a customer hears a so-called 'silent call' as no agent is available to take that call. (2) The Lewis Group are unable to provide figures for DWP alone as they only record combined information about all clients.

Refreshments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE).
	Information on expenditure for refreshments is only available from 2002-03 as the predecessor Departments accounted for this type of expenditure in different ways.
	The information is shown in the following table.
	All expenditure on refreshments is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Working lunches  Teas and coffees 
			 2002-03 722 613 
			 2003-04 867 905 
			 2004-05 825 959 
			 2005-06 937 781

State Pension: NI Contributions

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the net Exchequer cost is of the proposed reduction to 30 years national insurance contributions for a full basic state pension in 2010, and in subsequent years thereafter.

James Purnell: The estimated net cost of reducing the number of qualifying years required for a full basic state pension to 30 for people reaching state pension age from 2010 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ billion 
			   Estimated net cost 
			 2010 0.0 
			 2011 0.1 
			 2012 0.1 
			 2013 0.2 
			 2014 0.2 
			 2015 0.3 
			 2016 0.3 
			 2017 0.3 
			 2018 0.4 
			 2019 0.4 
			 2020 0.5 
			 2030 1.2 
			 2040 1.7 
			 2050 2.0 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are presented in £ billion, 2006-07 price terms. 2. Estimates of additional expenditure are consistent with the policy detail set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Pensions Bill. Net costs include savings seen from reduced expenditure on other income related benefits (pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit). They do not include any change in income tax revenue or national insurance. 3. Net costs assume the pension credit standard minimum guarantee is uprated by earnings from 2008. Net costs do not include the effect of direct reforms to the savings credit. 4. Costs or savings presented in the table are based on long-term projections of United Kingdom benefit spend, consistent with the pre-Budget report 2006. 5. Figures exclude the effect of raising state pension age. 6. Figures exclude the effect of personal accounts. 
		
	
	The estimates shown do not include any other reforms proposed in the Pensions Bill. For example, costs of uprating the basic state pension by earnings, or of the other reforms to improve the coverage of basic state pension, are not included.

State Pension: NI Contributions

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many years of National Insurance contributions would be required to receive a full basic state pension in each tax year from 2007-08 such that by 2013 the accumulated costs from 2007-08 onwards equal those which would have been accumulated as a result of measures in the Pensions Bill 2006-07 to give entitlement to a full basic state pension with 30 years' contributions from 2010.

James Purnell: The information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Workless Households

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which 50 wards have  (a) the highest proportion of children living in workless households and  (b) the highest proportion of workless households.

Jim Murphy: A workless household is a household containing someone claiming either income support, jobseeker's allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disability allowance, or pension credit.
	The 50 wards that have the highest proportion of children living in workless households are listed as follows:
	Barlanark
	Benchill
	Beswick and Clayton
	Bidston
	Birkenhead
	Blackfriars
	Bradford
	Breckfield
	Bridgeton/Dalmarnock
	Butetown
	Cantril Farm
	Central
	Church Street
	Craigmillar
	Craigneuk
	Everton
	Glenwood
	Granby
	Grangetown
	Gurnos
	Harpurhey
	Hulme
	Hutchesontown
	Ibrox
	Kensington
	Keppochhill
	Lawrence Hill
	Linacre
	Longview
	Maerdy
	Moss Side
	Northumberland Park
	Orchard Park and Greenwood
	Parkhead
	Penderry
	Pendleton
	Pen-y-waun
	Princess
	Queenslie
	Royston
	Smithdown
	Speke
	St. James
	Summerhill
	Thorntree
	Townhill
	Tylorstown
	Vauxhall
	Walker
	West City
	Information about the 50 wards that have the highest proportion of workless households is not available. This is because this is measured using data from the Household Labour Force Survey but this is only available at Government Office Region level.
	 Notes:
	1. All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system, and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically.
	2. Geo-referencing tools, obtained from the Office of National Statistics, have been used to assign claimants to geographies.
	3. Data represents children dependent on a parent/guardian claiming one or more of IS, JSA, IB/SDA or PC.
	4. Due to the introduction of child tax credits in April 2003, information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer system. Therefore children have been merged onto IS/JSA/IB/SDA/PC claims from child benefit records with permission of HMRC.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister of 13 December 2006,  Official Report, column 866, on engagements, if she will list the accident and emergency departments which are undergoing consultation on change.

Andy Burnham: This information is not held centrally. However, there may be a number of service reviews, where proposals are either subject to ongoing consultation or subject to consultation in the future, and that these may involve some changes to accident and emergency (A and E) facilities.
	The national health service has told us that there are no plans to consult on changes to A and E in 12 of the NHS trusts from the list of 29 that the hon. Member claimed were under threat of closure or downgrading in his letter of 30 November to the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson.
	The Government will support the NHS on service reconfigurations where clear and compelling cases for change are made. Professor Sir George Alberti's report "Emergency Access", published on 5 December 2006, set out that how emergency care is delivered needs to change to ensure that patients get the best care in the right place. The report is available in the Library and can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/publications
	No substantial changes to A and E facilities will take place without full and proper consultation with patients and the public locally.

Advertising

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on  (a) television and  (b) radio advertising in each year since 1997-98 in (i) real and (ii) nominal terms.

Ivan Lewis: The following tables set out how much the Department has spent on television and radio advertising in each year since 2000-05 in real and nominal terms.
	Financial information on television and radio advertising is only available for the last five years. Figures pre-2001 are no longer accessible due to the switch-over to a new financial management system.
	
		
			  TV advertising spend 
			  £ million 
			   Nominal  Real 
			 2001-02 8.7 8.3 
			 2002-03 9.05 8.60 
			 2003-04 18.75 18.36 
			 2004-05 17.77 17.59 
			 2005-06 13.82 13.82 
		
	
	
		
			  Radio advertising spend 
			  £ million 
			   Nominal  Real 
			 2001-02 2.10 2.42 
			 2002-03 2.03 2.22 
			 2003-04 2.12 2.26 
			 2004-05 3.74 3.78 
			 2005-06 3.90 3.90

Birthing Units

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for variations in the cost of deliveries referred to in the answer of 10 October 2006,  Official Report, column 679W in the last Session, on birthing units.

Ivan Lewis: A combination of local unavoidable costs effecting the cost of providing activity, such as staff, land and building costs, and the relative efficiencies of the organisations providing the activity lead to variations in the cost of the deliveries referred to. The information used to produce these average costs, national health service reference costs, is collected at an aggregate level so currently no further assessment can made to what parts of providing these services are contributing what costs.

Cataract Operations

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations were carried out at  (a) Good Hope Hospital and  (b) Sir Robert Peel Hospital in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The information for the Sir Robert Peel Hospital is not collected centrally. However, data relating to the Good Hope Hospital National Health Service Trust have been set out in the table.
	The table shows the number of cataract operations undertaken at Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust each year since 1999. Prior to this date no cataract operations were performed at the trust.
	
		
			  Count of finished in year admission episodes where cataracts were the main operation 
			   Number 
			 2005-06 362 
			 2004-05 352 
			 2003-04 321 
			 2002-03 309 
			 2001-02 348 
			 2000-01 395 
			 1999-2000 223 
			  Notes: 1. Main operation The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, eg time waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation. 2. OPCS codes: C71 Extracapsular extraction of lens C72 Intracapsular extraction of lens C74 Other extraction of lens C75 Prosthesis of lens Primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) data quality PCT and SHA data was added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of Treatment and SHA of Treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data. 3. Finished in-year admissions A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Choose and Book System

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of  (a) establishing the Choose and Book system and  (b) operating the system to date; whether the system is rolling out to plan; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: At the end of November 2006, the cost to date of the development and operation of the Choose and Book computer system was £33.0 million under a contract with Atos Origin worth £64.5 million over five years.
	In the week ending 3 December 2006, 32 per cent. of all national health service referrals to see a specialist went through choose and book and 77 per cent. of General Practitioners practices made at least one Choose and Book referral. All 170 eligible NHS acute trusts and a number of independent sector providers, are receiving choose and book referrals.

Cirencester Hospital

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Gloucester Partnership Trust has any plans  (a) to curtail and  (b) to move any of the NHS services which are provided at the Cirencester memorial hospital.

Ivan Lewis: Gloucestershire Partnership national health service trust plans to continue providing community-based specialist mental health services in Cirencester, including out-patient services and assessment and treatment. However, the Memorial Centre is not fit for providing modern mental health services and the trust needs to ensure that it discharges its responsibilities in relation to health and safety at work and disabled persons' access.
	The trust is therefore seeking an alternative location in Cirencester. The trust will share any relocation proposals with patients and the public locally before a final decision is taken and has confirmed that there will be no gaps in service provision during relocation.
	Until an alternative location is found, the Memorial Centre will continue to be used by staff to provide a range of services, including primary care assessment treatment, recovery and crisis teams, psychological therapy, substance misuse and eating disorder services.

Community Service Volunteers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has  (a) budgeted for and  (b) paid to the Community Service Volunteers in the 2006-07 financial year; and what the figures were in 2005-06.

Ivan Lewis: The amounts budgeted for and paid to the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) organisation by the Department of Health is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Payments budgeted and paid to CSV 
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			   Budgeted  Paid  Budgeted  Paid 
			 Capital volunteering 2,640,000 2,640,000 3,746,000 3,746,000 
			 Opportunities for volunteering 250,000 250,000 243,000 243,000 
			 Section 64 grant 12,300 12,300 30,000 22,500 
			 Total 2,902,300 2,902,300 4,019,000 265,500

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the chairman of the Appointments Commission to write to the hon. Member for Warley with the information requested in the question on the West Midlands Ambulance Service answered on 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1321W.

Rosie Winterton: I understand that a reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 22 December 2006.

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have accessed NHS dentistry in England in each of the last 12 months, broken down by primary care trust or local health board.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available in the form requested. Under the new dental system, which came into effect from 1 April 2006, information is available on the number of patients who receive care or treatment from a national health service dentist in the most recent 24-month period. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care publishes this information, known as patients seen, each quarter. This is not yet available broken down into adult and child categories but is expected to be available in this format later this year.
	The latest information available covering the 24-month periods ending March, June and September 2006 is set out by primary care trust in the table which has been placed in the Library. It is also available in the NHS Dental Statistics for England Quarter Two: 30 September 2006 publication at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/nhsdentq2.
	Welsh data are available from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Diabetes

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the criteria will be for the funding decision for the National Diabetes Support Team in the next financial year; and when the decision will be made.

Rosie Winterton: Funding for diabetes is included in the proposed bundle for 2007-08. A service level agreement is being prepared for discussion and agreement between the Department and the 10 strategic health authorities (SHAs). This is planned to be finalised in the next few weeks. The 10 SHAs will then agree how individual budget funding is to be deployed in 2007-08 and criteria to be used for decision-making.

Diabetes

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the National Diabetes Support Team received from her Department in  (a) 2003,  (b) 2004,  (c) 2005 and  (d) 2006 to date.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows how much funding has gone to the national diabetes support team (NDST) since its establishment in 2003
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 2,700,000 
			 2004-05 4,000,000 
			 2005-06 4,694,000 
			 2006-07 4,490,000 
			  Note:  In 2006-2007 there was a change in the funding arrangements. Up until that point funding for the NDST was on the basis of a service level agreement (SLA) directly with Bradford primary care trust(PCT). From 2006-2007 onwards funding for the NDST has formed part of the bundle of national health service programme money passed to the new strategic health authorities (SHAs) to cover the cost of various centrally provided NHS activities such as national support teams. 
		
	
	Bradford PCT acted as host agency for the NDST and channelled funding to the team on the basis of a SLA held with the Department

Gershon Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by her Department and its associated public bodies in order to achieve Gershon efficiency savings; whether these costs have been included in reporting headline efficiency savings; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Gershon report required Departments to calculate operating efficiencies recurrent beyond March 2008. We were not required to calculate non-recurrent investment costs incurred up to this date. Any recurrent additional operating costs that may offset specific efficiency gains are however included.
	Both our initial target and subsequent reported progress are calculated on this basis. We do not therefore hold a comprehensive central record of non recurrent costs. Deducted recurrent costs at September 2006, relating to community nursing to enable reduced hospital emergency bed days, amount to £60 million.
	Full details of how gains have been calculated are set out in the efficiency technical note published in December 2005 and available on the Department's website.

Health Protection Agency

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in practice have resulted following publication of the Health Protection Agency's Port Health and Medical Inspection Review.

Caroline Flint: The joint Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Home Office review of port health and medical inspection under the Immigration Act identified an action plan, which is currently being implemented. The HPA has initiated work to ensure that arrangements at each port of entry are robust, understood and fit for purpose, which allow the HPA to assume full responsibility for the medical input to these services from April 2007. The Home Office has also set up standing arrangements for the healthcare of immigration detainees at ports of entry.

Hospital Beds

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in NHS hospitals in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many were  (a) intensive care,  (b) high dependency and  (c) high observation beds.

Rosie Winterton: Table 1 shows the average daily number of available intensive care beds, England, 2001-02 to 2005-06.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Intensive care beds 
			 2001-02 4,938 
			 2002-03 5,022 
			 2003-04 5,013 
			 2004-05 5,223 
			 2005-06 5,463 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of available adult high dependency beds on the census dates, England, 2001 to 2006.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Census date  Adult high dependency beds 
			 15 January 2001 1,208 
			 16 July 2001 1,270 
			 15 January 2002 1,319 
			 16 July 2002 1,352 
			 15 January 2003 1,351 
			 16 July 2003 1,397 
			 15 January 2004 1,374 
			 15 July 2004 1,414 
			 13 January 2005 1,440 
			 14 July 2005 1,429 
			 16 January 2006 1,485 
			 13 July 2006 1,443 
		
	
	Data on the number of high observation beds is not held centrally.

Hospital Parking

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per hour is for parking at hospitals in  (a) England,  (b) the Midlands and  (c) Staffordshire.

Andy Burnham: The average (median) hourly cost of hospital parking for staff and visitors in 2005-06 is in the table.
	
		
			   Average fee charges per hour for patient visitor parking (£) 
			 England 0.83 
			 Midlands (as defined by Birmingham and Black Country, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, Shropshire and Staffordshire, Trent and West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) boundaries). 1.00 
			 Staffordshire (Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA) 0.59 
			  Note: The information is based on data provided voluntarily by the national health service and has not been amended centrally. NHS trusts that have provided no data or made a zero return were excluded from the calculation.

In-patient Waiting Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been removed from the official NHS in-patient waiting list in each year since 1990.

Andy Burnham: The figures are shown in the table
	
		
			  Number of removals from an inpatient waiting list, England 1990 to 2006 
			   Number 
			 1989-90 260,503 
			 1990-91 306,899 
			 1991-92 387,980 
			 1992-93 412,299 
			 1993-94 451,559 
			 1994-95 521,320 
			 1995-96 547,863 
			 1996-97 551,999 
			 1997-98 558,242 
			 1998-99 672,432 
			 1999-2000 622,787 
			 2000-01 613,931 
			 2001-02 581,534 
			 2002-03 601,353 
			 2003-04 621,345 
			 2004-05 612,004 
			 2005-06 613,626 
			  Note: Removals can be made for the following reasons: —patient no longer requires treatment; —patient has removed themselves from the list; —patient admitted as an emergency; and —patient transferred to another trust.  Source: KH06 NHS Trust-based figures.

Institute for Innovation and Improvement

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement plans to spend on its new initiative The Productive Community Hospital; how many staff will be working on the initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement will be carrying out a tender exercise for some elements of the project and therefore data relating to costings for the project are commercially sensitive. Staffing levels for the project have not yet been fixed.

Local Involvement Networks

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to ensure that monies provided to local authorities for local involvement networks will be passed on.

Rosie Winterton: Following discussions between the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government, it has been agreed that the resources to provide support to local involvement networks (LINks) will be allocated as a targeted specific grant. The specific grant for LINks will be separately identified and paid to local authorities.
	The authorities will be under a statutory duty to establish LINks to specified standards, with guidance to ensure consistency between authorities. We will encourage overview and scrutiny committees to scrutinise this duty to assess whether the local authority made use of all of its allocation effectively in the support of LINks. The use of the grant will also come under the scrutiny of the Audit Commission.

Long-term Care

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the treatment and care of patients with long-term conditions.

Ivan Lewis: The Government's framework document for supporting people with long term conditions is set out in "Supporting People with Long Term Conditions—An NHS and Social Care Model to support local innovation and integration". This has been supplemented by "Supporting People with Long Term Conditions to ... Self Care—a guide to developing local strategies and good practice" and chapter 5 of "Our Health Our Care Our Say—a new direction for community services" support for people with longer-term needs. Copies of all three documents have been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to advise Gloucestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of her decision on the referral of service delivery in Gloucestershire with regard to mental health; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Gloucestershire Overview Scrutiny Committee (OSC) wrote to the Secretary of State on 20 November referring the decision by Gloucestershire Partnership National Health Service Trust to centralise older people's mental health in-patient services at Charlton Lane, Cheltenham.
	The Department is currently considering the information relevant to the case and a reply will be sent to the OSC in due course.

Myasthenia Gravis

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 30 November 2006 to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell),  Official Report, column 919W, on myasthenia gravis, what proportion of the 25 per cent. of her Department's expenditure on health research that is not devolved to and managed by NHS organisations was spent on research into myasthenia gravis in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: None in the financial year 2005-06.

National Partnership for Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in establishing the National Partnership for Obesity; which organisations she expects to participate in the National Partnership; what  (a) role and  (b) terms of reference the Partnership will have; and when she expects the Partnership to begin its work.

Caroline Flint: The obesity stakeholder engagement work, being undertaken by the Department, represents a national partnership for obesity by engaging representatives from across central and local government, together with non-government organisations and industry, to develop a social marketing approach in the prevention of obesity. In addition, the governance arrangements for the cross-government obesity programme account for partnership working between the national health service and other Government departments, agencies, primary care trusts, NHS organisations, health professionals, local authorities, schools, early years settings and industry. All of this work is under way.

NHS: Barnet

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) average and  (b) longest time for which a Barnet resident (i) waited for an (A) MRI and (B) CT scan in (1) 1996-97 and (2) 2005-06 and (ii) has waited for each type of scan in 2006-07; how many patients had each type of scan in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The information requested was only collected from 2006-07 and is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Timeband breakdown of MRI and CT waiting times for Barnet PCT, commissioner basis—2006 
			  Number of patients waiting 
			Weeks 
			  Month  Test  0<1  1<2  2<3  3<4  4<5  5<6 
			 March Magnetic resonance imaging 37 47 61 49 42 34 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 56 71 62 65 56 43 
			 March Computed tomography 40 37 35 38 39 29 
			 October Computed tomography 79 67 65 36 41 42 
		
	
	
		
			  Month  Test  6<7  7<8  8<9  9<10  10<11 
			 March Magnetic resonance imaging 42 51 42 48 39 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 48 42 39 52 39 
			 March Computed tomography 23 21 3 5 3 
			 October Computed tomography 33 21 14 5 12 
		
	
	
		
			  Month  Test  l1<12  12<13  13<14  14<15  15<16  16<17 
			 March Magnetic resonance imaging 41 35 23 19 17 27 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 40 32 26 25 15 20 
			 March Computed tomography 3 2 2 1 0 1 
			 October Computed tomography 6 5 3 3 1 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Month  Test  17<18  18<19  19<20  20<21  21<22 
			 March Magnetic resonance imaging 23 22 24 1 0 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 17 15 11 9 4 
			 March Computed tomography 1 1 0 0 0 
			 October Computed tomography 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Month  Test  22<23  23<24  24<25  25<26  26<27  27<28 
			 March Magnetic Resonance Imaging 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 1 3 1 4 0 0 
			 March Computed tomography 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 October Computed tomography 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Month  Test  28<29  29<30  30<31  31<32  32<33 
			 March Magnetic Resonance Imaging 0 0 0 0 1 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 0 0 0 0 0 
			 March Computed tomography 0 0 0 0 0 
			 October Computed tomography 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Note: Weekly timeband data are collected up to 52+ weeks, however, as there were no patients waiting beyond 33 weeks for this dataset, only timebands up to 33 weeks are provided.  Source: Department of Health, DMO1 
		
	
	
		
			  Summary of MRI and CT waiting times for Barnet PCT, commissioner basis—2006 
			  Month  Test  Total number of patients waiting  Median wait (weeks) 
			 March Magnetic resonance imaging 728 8.0 
			 October Magnetic resonance imaging 795 6.9 
			 March Computed tomography 284 3.8 
			 October Computed tomography 437 3.2 
			  Source: Department of Health, DMO1

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) net financial outturn,  (b) gross surplus and  (c) gross deficit of the NHS was in each financial year since 1990-91.

Andy Burnham: We do not maintain figures by individual national health service body prior to 1996-97, we cannot provide gross deficits and gross surpluses for the earliest years.
	The following table provides the NHS gross financial position for the years 1996-97 to 2005-06 and the net financial position of the NHS for years 1990-91 to 2005-06.
	National health service (NHS) gross deficits and gross surpluses are not available in years 1990-91 to 1995-96.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total NHS gross surplus  Total NHS gross (deficit)  Total NHS net (deficit)/surplus 
			 1990-91 n/a n/a (125) 
			 1991-92 n/a n/a 103 
			 1992-93 n/a n/a 53 
			 1993-94 n/a n/a 130 
			 1994-95 n/a n/a 25 
			 1995-96 n/a n/a (250) 
			 1996-97 134 (593) (459) 
			 1997-98 119 (240) (121) 
			 1998-99 145 (163) (18) 
			 1999-2000 144 (273) (129) 
			 2000-01 153 (41) 112 
			 2001-02 141 (69) 71 
			 2002-03 302 (206) 96 
			 2003-04 338 (265) 73 
			 2004-05 504 (725) (221) 
			 2005-06 765 (1,312) (547) 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million 2. Figures exclude foundation trusts

North Bristol NHS Trust

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the accumulated financial deficit of North Bristol NHS Trust owed to her Department in respect of annual deficits is since 1997; how much of the accumulated deficit has so far been repaid; over what timescale the remainder is to be repaid; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: North Bristol NHS Trust first reported a cumulative deficit of £4.2 million in 2001-02, which increased to £48.8 million in 2002-03. In the subsequent three financial years the trust has recovered £3.9 million, and therefore the cumulative deficit remaining to be recovered at the end of 2005-06 is £44.9 million.
	The timescale for the recovery of deficits by NHS trusts is determined by the statutory breakeven duty, which states that a cumulative deficit must be recovered in the subsequent two years following the first year in which a cumulative deficit position is reported. It is the responsibility of the strategic health authorities (SHA) to work with NHS organisations in their local health economies and agree a recovery plan that phases the recovery of deficits over a number of years. By exception, the SHA can agree an extension to the recovery period to four years in line with an agreed recovery plan. At the end of 2005-06 North Bristol NHS Trust had been in a cumulative deficit position for five years and is therefore in breach of its statutory duty.
	The Department cannot simply write off historic deficits. The Department, and, consequently, the NHS, have to live within an agreed level of resources in each financial year. This level is set by HM Treasury and voted by Parliament. In order for the system as a whole to balance, a deficit in one organisation has to be matched by a surplus elsewhere. Deficits therefore must be repaid so that the resources can be returned to the organisations that generated the offsetting surpluses.

Nurses

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total average annual cost is of employing a nurse; and what it was in 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The hospital and community health services (HCHS) pay bill per head (FTE) for employing a qualified nurse in 1997-98 and 2004-05 which is the latest available year was:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-08 22,975 
			 2004-05 32,791 
			  Notes: 1. Figures cover all staff and salary costs, including employers' NI and pension contributions. 2. Pay bill per head (FTE) is derived using full-time equivalent staff numbers. Pay bill figures include the "on-costs" of employment. On-costs are estimated using figures in financial returns (these are not broken down by staff group or grade). 3. 2004-05 figures include estimates for foundation trusts 4. 2004-05 figures include £334 "other" provision, assumed to be for Agenda for Change. 5. Part of the increase between the two years is due to the transfer of responsibility for funding pensions indexation costs to NHS employers, under which employer pensions contributions rose from 7 per cent. to 14 per cent.  Source: These costs are estimated on the basis of data from the national health service trust, primary care trust and strategic health authority financial returns and foundation trust annual reports, together with staff numbers (excluding the cost of agency staff) from the work force census.

Public Information Campaigns

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for information campaigns to tackle  (a) obesity,  (b) smoking,  (c) teenage pregnancy,  (d) hepatitis and  (e) sexually transmitted disease.

Caroline Flint: Improving the quality and provision of public services and information is a key Government priority.
	For obesity, the Healthy Living Social Marketing Programme, will focus on supporting parents and carers in their role as the primary influences of healthy eating habits in children. The programme was launched at a mass stakeholder event in December 2006 with public facing activity planned for early 2007.
	New campaigns to motivate and support smokers to quit will be launched in the new year and we will be continuing the second-hand smoke education campaign in March 2007.
	A new sexual health campaign, "Condom Essential Wear" was launched on 9 November 2006, targeting 18-24 year olds, and aiming to inform them about the prevalence and invisibility of sexually transmitted infections, and to reduce instances of teenage pregnancies. This is additional to our targeted HIV campaigns for gay men and African communities. The Department also works with the Department for Education and Skills on the "Want Respect? Use a Condom and RU Thinking" campaigns for young people and teenagers.
	In addition, the Department is running a national hepatitis C awareness campaign for healthcare professionals and the public in support of the "Hepatitis C Action Plan for England". Information about the prevention and control of hepatitis A and B has been provided to healthcare professionals and the public.

Special Exception Committees

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role special exception committees within primary care trusts have in approving NHS treatments.

Andy Burnham: Primary care trusts (PCTs) must determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations. Each PCT must establish a professional executive committee to exercise particular functions, including to provide advice and assistance to medical practitioners. PCTs are also able to appoint other committees of the trust, but there is no requirement for a special exception committee of other committee to approve national health service treatments.

Talking Treatments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any measures are being considered to improve access to talking treatments for  (a) black and minority ethnic groups,  (b) refugees and asylum seekers,  (c) people with learning disabilities and a mental health problem,  (d) people in prison,  (e) people with alcohol or other drug dependency problems,  (f) older people,  (g) children,  (h) people with long-term physical health problems and  (i) people in hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are committed to improving mental health services and this is why we support increasing the availability of evidence-based psychological therapies through our programme Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), which was launched in May 2006.
	This programme will initially focus on adults of working age in order to establish the links between the provision of evidence-based psychological interventions and retaining and maintaining people in employment. We will also be addressing the benefit of extending these services to people of all ages as part of the regional psychological therapies programmes led by the Care Services Improvement Partnership, which will complement the two national improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT) demonstration sites.
	The IAPT demonstration sites will provide evidence of the effectiveness of stepped improvements in access to psychological therapies and of the resultant benefits to people's health and well-being, to the efficiency and effectiveness of mental health systems and to the economy as a whole. Building on these foundations over the longer term will be to the benefit of everyone who needs these therapies, whatever their age or circumstances.

Volunteer Retention

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has put in place to try to ensure volunteer retention during the introduction of Local Involvement Networks (LINks); and what national guidelines will be put in place for the appointment of individuals to positions on LINks.

Rosie Winterton: We expect that existing groups, especially patient and public involvement (PPI) forums, should form the basis of local involvement networks (LINks) membership and the starting point for further recruitment. We are very keen that we do not lose the experience and expertise of forum members and members of other established patient, service user and public involvement groups.
	Central guidance will be made available after the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill receives Royal Assent in 2007. This guidance will include advice on LINks membership, but will not be prescriptive. Essentially, the decision to recruit members will remain local. However, we would encourage current patient forum members to transfer their experience and knowledge to LINks and would like to see them be a major part in the formation of them.

Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting more than six months for an NHS operation at an English hospital at the latest date for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The number of patients at the end of November 2006 waiting over 26 weeks for admission to an English national health service trust was 892.

Advisers

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether there are restrictions on political activity included in the contracts of additional advisers appointed to the main political parties;
	(2)  whether additional advisers appointed to the main political parties are eligible for  (a) support from officials in,  (b) accommodation in property used by and  (c) office facilities provided by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

David Hanson: The four main political parties represented on the Assembly's Programme for Government Committee have been offered additional support under the Financial Assistance to Political Parties Act (NI) 2000 (the Act) specifically in connection with the substantial work of that Committee. The Assembly scheme determined under the Act provides that those additional advisers shall act in accordance with any guidance issued by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Guidance is presently being prepared which will cover the issue of political activity during the Assembly election period.
	I am arranging to place in the Library of the House the letters sent by the Secretary of State to the leaders of the four main parties, which set out details of the facilities that have been offered to them.

Alzheimer's Disease

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used when determining the prescription of Reminyl to patients with Alzheimer's disease on the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: Reminyl is available on prescription in Northern Ireland following examination and recommendation by a consultant, taking account of evidence based practice and the needs of the patient. Consultants generally apply a test known as the Mini Mental State Examination which, together with functional and behavioural assessment of the patient, helps inform their decision on the prescription of drugs in individual cases.
	The availability of drugs to treat people with Alzheimer's disease, including Reminyl, is currently being reviewed by my Department in light of the recent NICE technology appraisal on drugs for Alzheimer's disease and the institute's broader clinical guideline on the management of dementia.

Biodiversity

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contribution he expects Northern Ireland to make to the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 agreed by all the member states during the 2001 EU Summit in Gothenburg; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: Biodiversity is recognised as an issue for all Northern Ireland Departments. They are all currently striving to meet the recommendations of the NI Biodiversity Strategy which include some of the priorities set out in the recent EU Communication on "Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010—and beyond" issued in May 2006. Further work is ongoing to incorporate the EU Communication targets into Departmental Biodiversity Action Plans which are being developed as part of the Sustainable Development Strategy Implementation Plan launched on 26 November.
	Biodiversity is a key aspect of sustainable development and is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Strategy and its Implementation Plan.

Biodiversity

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Department of the Environment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: The Department of the Environment has made substantial progress in meeting the objectives of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy, which incorporates many of the EU Communication's priorities. For example, Environment and Heritage Service has been delivering action plans for species and habitats which have declined or suffered biodiversity loss, and require conservation action. This includes the designation and management of statutory designated sites such as Natura 2000 and Areas of Special Scientific Interest.

Biodiversity

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what policies he has in place to meet the target to halt biodiversity loss in Northern Ireland by 2010; and whether he plans to introduce additional measures to meet the target.

David Cairns: The Department of the Environment is committed to reviewing the policies and recommendations of the Northern Ireland biodiversity strategy to incorporate the targets included in the EU Communication "Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010—and beyond". This review will influence, and be a key component of, the implementation of the priority area of "natural resource protection" identified in the sustainable development strategy.
	The ongoing development and revision of planning policies will continue to contributeto halting the loss of biodiversity.

Biodiversity

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been put in place to monitor and evaluate progress towards the target to halt biodiversity loss in Northern Ireland by 2010; and what biodiversity indicators have been adopted.

David Cairns: Progress in achieving the recommendations of the Northern Ireland biodiversity strategy is regularly monitored and an independent progress report is submitted to Government every three years. Any relevant additional targets to be incorporated into this process that flow from the EU Communication "Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010—and beyond" will be included in the next progress report, scheduled for September 2008.
	In addition, the EU Communication sets out to develop a small set of "biodiversity headline indicators" by 2007. These indicators, which are currently being considered by devolved administrations within the UK, are intended to inform members states of the effectiveness of key policies and pressures affecting the trends of biodiversity within the EC.

Clerical Child Abuse

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic diocesan officials have been  (a) interviewed by the police in Northern Ireland and  (b) charged in relation to withholding evidence of clerical child sex abuse in the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: I have been advised by the PSNI that the information sought is not available in the requested format. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Daisy Hill Hospital

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the provision of pathology services at Daisy Hill hospital, Newry from April 2007 onwards.

Paul Goggins: The Department is currently consulting on the recommendations of a review of clinical pathology laboratory services in Northern Ireland. The report of the review makes 23 recommendations which aim to ensure the sustainability of high quality laboratory services across Northern Ireland. The recommendations include proposals for reconfiguration of the current service delivery profile. If the recommendations are accepted and implemented, Daisy Hill hospital would provide site essential, rapid response clinical biochemistry and haematology services 12-hours daily. Out of hours urgent samples would be transferred to the nearest large acute hospital, 24-hour blood transfusion services would be maintained, with out of hours cover from the nearest large acute hospital laboratory, and with electronic release of blood for patients who have previously been cross-matched.
	The consultation period runs until 28 February 2007, following which the responses will be considered and decisions on the future profile of hospital pathology services finalised.

Draft Street Works Order

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether the Draft Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order takes account of Targeting Social Need Policy;
	(2)  whether the Water Service will be subject to the requirements of the Draft Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order.

David Cairns: The Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order itself will not have any direct cost implications and so it has no impact on either New Targeting Social Need policy or the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy launched by the Secretary of State on 13 November 2006.
	When the Department is developing future subordinate legislation under the Order, the requirements of the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy will be fully integrated into its considerations.
	With regard to the second question, I can confirm that the provisions of the Order will apply to Northern Ireland Water Ltd. and that, by virtue of Article 269 (2) of the Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006, it will not be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown and will not have any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.

Elderly People: Falls

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often checks were made on residential nursing homes and hospital units in each health board area in Northern Ireland caring for the elderly to ensure best practice in health and safety in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: Under current legislation, which commenced in April 2005, all nursing homes are required to be inspected a minimum of twice in every 12 month period. Prior to this, only voluntary and independent homes were statutorily required to be inspected on the same basis, whilst homes run by HSS trusts were similarly inspected as a matter of good practice.
	The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority has reported a total of 621 inspections of 172 nursing homes in 2005-06.
	Information on the previous two years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There is no legislative provision requiring inspections of hospital units.

Environmental Building Standards

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to promote higher environmental building standards in publicly funded buildings in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Government's vision is to see improved standards of building in Northern Ireland which will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases by encouraging energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy technologies. An amendment to the relevant part of the Northern Ireland Building-Regulations came into operation on 30 November requiring all building, whether public or private, to demonstrate improved energy performance and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. These requirements, which are continually under review, will be enhanced by implementing provisions of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which, under new regulations to be introduced next year to promote greater awareness of energy performance, will require the production of an energy performance certificate whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out.
	The Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland, which the Secretary of State launched in May 2006, requires the Government estate to be carbon neutral by 2015. Progress towards this objective will be supported by the Achieving Excellence in Construction Initiative, which requires procurement and investment decisions to be based on whole lifecycle costing underpinned by sustainability assessments. Further, from 31 March 2007 all Departments and district councils will be under a statutory duty to act in the way best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in Northern Ireland.
	From 2007-08, part of the Government office estate will be managed by a private sector partner under the Workplace 2010 programme. The contract governing this arrangement will stipulate that the buildings involved must meet appropriate standards of energy and environmental management. This will produce a better use of space and increased energy efficiency, resulting in a significant reduction in our carbon footprint.

Fertility Counselling

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the additional funding for the enhancement of fertility counselling services announced by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 17 September has been allocated to the Western Health Board area; and how much the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety allocated to each health board area for fertility counselling services in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The additional £50,000 per annum was allocated specifically towards improving access to fertility counselling services in Northern Ireland will be distributed to each of the four Health and Social Services Boards under the agreed capitation formula. Under that formula £8,575 will be allocated to the Western Board.
	The Department has not previously identified specific funding for counselling. Counselling for people attending the regional fertility centre is provided as part of the total funding for fertility services in Northern Ireland.

Fire and Rescue Service

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) work-related and  (b) fire-related injuries were sustained by Northern Ireland firefighters in each year since 2000-01.

Paul Goggins: The following table and associated explanatory notes provides the information requested by the hon. Member.
	
		
			   On-duty injuries to operational personnel  Incident-related injuries  Burn injuries at incidents  Total 
			 2000-01 427 230 14 671 
			 2001-02 402 176 9 587 
			 2002-03 354 140 3 497 
			 2003-04 291 157 7 455 
			 2004-05 239 120 8 367 
			 2005-06 194 70 1 265 
			  Notes:  1. On-duty injuries to operational personnel includes the total number of injuries sustained by whole-time or retained personnel. The majority of these fall within the categories of manual handling or slips/trips/falls.  2. Incident-related injuries includes injuries that have occurred during the time that an appliance is en-route to an emergency incident, while the appliance is at the incident or while it is returning from the incident.  3. Burn injuries at incidents include burns or scalds that have occurred at emergency incidents.

GCSEs

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils left  (a) Catholic managed and  (b) other managed schools with (i) less than five GCSEs and (ii) no qualifications in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is as follows:
	
		
			   Catholic managed  Other managed 
			   Less than 5 GCSEs A*-G  No formal qualifications  Less than 5 GCSEs A*-G  No formal qualifications 
			 2004-05 1,665 462 1,769 411 
			 2003-04 1,945 701 1,687 567 
			 2002-03 (l) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2001-02 1,805 679 1,855 629 
			 2000-01 1,907 657 1,733 563 
			 1999-2000 1,896 493 1,726 406 
			 1998-99 1,908 386 1,766 297 
			 1997-98 2,104 488 1,771 309 
			 1996-97 2,313 529 2,001 400 
			 1995-96( 2) 2,152 248 1,776 149 
			 1994-95 2,304 510 1,831 313 
			 (1) There was no school leavers' survey in 2002-03 because of problems in the software of the schools' Management Information System. (2) Qualifications data are missing for 3 per cent. of the school leavers in 1995-96. The apparent dip in the figures between 1994-95 and 1996-97 needs to be seen in this context.

Health Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has taken to address concerns expressed by trade unions on the implications of Agenda for Change for health service staff in Northern Ireland; and if the DHSSPS will meet unions to discuss these concerns.

Paul Goggins: The implementation of the Agenda for Change agreement is being taken forward in partnership with Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) employers and recognised trade unions. My Department officials and representatives from HPSS employers meet on a monthly basis with regional officers from the main health trade unions. I would expect that any concerns about the implication of Agenda for Change to be brought to that forum.

Health Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision has been made to consult on changes to the  (a) nursing and  (b) midwifery functions at (i) the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and (ii) the Health and Social Services Authority level under the review of public administration.

Paul Goggins: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, wrote to the trade unions and to the Health and Personal Social Services on 14 November 2006 setting out proposals on how the nursing and midwifery functions at the Department and Health and Social Care Authority could be secured as part of the implementation of the review of public administration.
	A discussion paper is to be issued shortly and no final decision will be made without taking the views of stakeholders fully into account.

Home Carers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home carers are employed in the western health and social services board area.

Paul Goggins: While home care may be available from a variety of sources, the Department holds information only on those staff employed within the Northern Ireland health and social services. The number of home care staff employed by trusts in the western health and social services board area is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Home care staff employed within the NI HPSS by trusts in the Western health and social services board area as at 31 December 2006 
			   Grade 
			   Home carer/home care assistant  Home help 
			 Headcount 386 1,274 
			 Whole-time equivalent 177.80 457.45 
			  Notes: 1. Altnagelvin trust, as an acute trust, do not employ home helps. 2. Sperrin Lakeland trust stated that as part of the Home Care Reform Programme a number of home care assistants have been signed up and are awaiting deployment. 3. Figures include staff employed on an "as and when required" basis.  Source: Western Health and Social Services Board Area Trusts

Home Carers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions patients in the Western Health and Social Services Board area have been detained in hospital because no home carers were available in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The number of occasions patients in the Western Health and Social Services Board area have been detained in hospital because no home carers were available in each of the last 12 months is not available. However, the number of patients who have had their discharge delayed due to "no place or package being available" and who were recorded as being resident in the Western Board area in each of the last 12 months are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Month  Number of delayed discharges due to no available place or package 
			  2005  
			 November 12 
			 December 10 
			  2006  
			 January 9 
			 February 8 
			 March 8 
			 April 6 
			 May <5 
			 June 6 
			 July(1) <5 
			 August(1) <5 
			 September (1) 10 
			 October(1) 7 
			 (1)Information is currently provisional and subject to change.   Notes:  1. Figures are presented in respect of the position at the last day of each month  2. Please note that cell sizes that have a value of less than 5 have been masked in order to help protect confidentiality.   Source:  Departmental Return, DDL.

Hospital Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people had been waiting more than six months for an NHS operation in Northern Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: Official waiting lists are produced on a quarterly basis. Information on the number of patients waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment in Northern Ireland hospitals is provided in the following table for the quarters ending December 2005, March 2006, June 2006 and September 2006.
	
		
			  Quarter ending  Number of patients waiting six months and over 
			 December 2005 10,403 
			 March 2006 6,580 
			 June 2006 5,144 
			 September 2006 3,786 
			  Source: Departmental Information return CH1 
		
	
	There is a ministerial commitment that by March 2007 no one will have to wait more than six months for in-patient or daycase treatment.
	Since the end of September 2006 continued progress has been made towards this target and based on provisional performance monitoring information, 2,681 patients were waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment at the end of December 2006—a reduction of approximately 29 per cent. on the position at the end of September 2006.
	Official waiting list figures for in-patient/daycase admission for quarter ending December 2006 will be published on 1 March 2007 and will be available at:
	http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-pubs/stats-hospital_community_statistics.htm#waitinglists.
	A copy of the next waiting list bulletin will be available in the House of Commons Library.

Legislation: Public Consultation

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the Government has consulted the public in Northern Ireland on legislation in each of the last five years; and on what pieces of legislation affecting Northern Ireland the Government  (a) consulted and  (b) did not consult.

Peter Hain: My Department seeks to consult the public on Northern Ireland legislation wherever possible. Of the Acts and Orders in Council made since I became the Secretary of State, prior public consultation was carried out on the following:
	 Acts
	Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006
	(in respect of electoral registration, political donations and the devolution of policing and justice functions, which make up the majority of the Act)
	 Orders in Council
	Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2005
	Drainage (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
	Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
	Insolvency (NI) Order 2005
	Unauthorised Encampments (NI) Order 2005
	Colleges of Education (NI) Order 2005
	Traffic Management (NI) Order 2005
	The Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2005
	The Firearms (Amendment) (NI) Order 2005
	Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) (NI) Order 2005
	Local Government (NI) Order 2005
	Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2005
	Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006
	Safety at Sports Grounds (NI) Order 2006
	Industrial and Provident Societies (NI) Order 2006
	Rates (Capital Values) (NI) Order 2006
	Stormont Estate (NI) Order 2006
	Planning Reform (NI) Order 2006
	Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006
	Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006
	Education (NI) Order 2006
	Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2006
	Water and Sewerage Services (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2006
	Victims and Survivors (NI) Order 2006
	Rates (Amendment) (NI) Order 2006
	Smoking (NI) Order 2006
	In the same period for a variety of reasons, prior public consultation was not carried out on the following Northern Ireland Acts and Orders in Council:
	 Acts
	Electoral Registration (NI) Act 2005
	Northern Ireland Act 2006
	Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006
	Terrorism (NI) Act 2006
	 Orders in Council
	Budget (No.2) (NI) Order 2005
	Budget (NI) Order 2006
	Budget (No.2) (NI) Order 2006
	Local Government Boundaries (NI) Order 2006
	Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2006
	Work and Families (NI) Order 2006
	Electricity Consents (Planning) (NI) Order 2006
	The information sought in respect of the remaining three and a half years of the five year period, is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Medical Professional Vacancies

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to filling the medical professional vacancies created when non-European area students leave Northern Ireland after they complete their foundation programme.

Paul Goggins: Vacancies are monitored through the Department's on-going workforce planning mechanism, which includes a review of the medical workforce. Within that review, allowance is made for a net loss of doctors at the early stages of training.
	While the group of doctors referred to may choose not to seek further employment following completion of the foundation programme, there remains a likelihood that opportunities will arise that are not taken up by EEA doctors. These can be taken up by the group of doctors referred to or by others from outside the EEA.

NCP Contract

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service to National Car Parks (NCP) under the contract to enforce car parking restrictions in the most recent period for which figures are available; what performance indicators apply under that contract; how those indicators are  (a) measured and  (b) monitored; and what the maximum annual amount payable to NCP is under the terms of the contract.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. D M McKibbin dated 15 January 2007
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary question regarding how much was paid by the Department for Regional Development Roads Service to National Car Parks (NCP) under the contract to enforce car parking restrictions in the most recent period for which figures are available; what performance indicators apply under that contract; how those indicators are  (a) measured and  (b) monitored; and what the maximum annual amount payable w NCP is under the terms of the contract.
	As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	I can advise that to date, no payment has been made by Roads Service to National Car Parks Ltd (NCP) in relation to the contract for the operation of parking and enforcement services as no invoice has been submitted.
	Performance measurement and monitoring is on the basis of 31 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which relate to the quality of the service being provided (see Annex A). These KPIs relate to all aspects of work covered by the contract and are not solely related to the enforcement of parking restrictions. They cover such items as the level of deployment of traffic attendants, training, quality of information recorded, car park management and cash collection. There are no KPIs related to the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued.
	Given the wide scope of the KPIs, different methods are required to measure and monitor performance. For example, deployment levels are measured through payroll records and can be independently monitored from reports produced by Roads Service. Quality of information recorded mil be analysed by examining the number of PCNs cancelled due to traffic attendant (TA) error.
	The contract includes for the management of Roads Service's off-street charged car parks and the enforcement of parking restrictions. If NCP provides the appropriate level of service as measured against the KPIs, under the terms of the contract, the maximum annual amount payable to them will be £8,848,698.38. This sum includes the maximum performance related payment, and refers to the full service to be provided by NCP, not just enforcement of parking restrictions.
	 Key Performance Indicators
	 A. Effective Parking Enforcement
	1. Number of TAs deployed.
	2. Number of Supervisors deployed.
	3. Coverage of Patrol requirements,
	4. The availability and responsiveness of the rapid response unit.
	 B. Good quality, motivated and informed TAs
	5. Initial TA training and accreditation.
	6. Regular-assessments and delivery of on-going training.
	7. The Standard of TA appearance, courtesy and helpfulness.
	8. The level of complaints and complaints handling,
	9. Level of Absenteeism and staff turnover amongst all TA staff and car park staff.
	 C. Issue of Good Quality PCNs
	10. Number of cancellations due to TA error.
	11. Number of Void PCNs.
	12. Good quality information.
	13. Control of Pocket Books.
	14. Linkage of good quality digital images to PCNs.
	 D. Clamping and Removal Operations
	15. Availability of resources during hours of operation.
	16. Adherence to removals/clamps criteria.
	17. Good quality condition reports including digital images.
	18. Timeliness of releasing clamps handling of requests for priority de-clamping.
	 E. Car Pound Operations
	19. Banking of cash via the car pound.
	20. The availability of staff at the car pound.
	21. Customer Service,
	22. Inventory.
	 F. Full and timely reporting of all defective/missing lines and signs
	23. The prompt reporting of all defects in lines, signs and relevant street furniture.
	 G. Car Park Management
	24. Car Park Management.
	25. Enforcement and Compliance in kiosk car parks.
	26. Car Park Cleanliness and Flower beds and surrounds.
	27. Signs, lines and bay markings are in good condition.
	 H. Procurement, Reporting and Maintenance of Equipment
	28. Maintain all pay and display machines in working condition.
	29. Car park equipment will be maintained and all faults swiftly rectified.
	 I. Cash Collection, Counting and Banking
	30. Cash must be regularly collected, counted and banked from all pay and display machines, 31. Cash must be collected, counted and banked from off street car parks (kiosk and pay on foot) at regular intervals.
	31. Cash must be collected, counted and banked from off street car parks (kiosk and pay on foot) at regular intervals.

Prescriptions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2006,  Official Report, column 91W, on free prescriptions, what actions were taken against those who claimed to be entitled to free prescriptions without entitlement during 2005-06 but were not successfully prosecuted.

Paul Goggins: The following actions are taken in cases where persons who claim to be entitled to free prescriptions and subsequently found not to be:
	(i) A letter is issued to the person requesting payment of the health charge within 14 days if they accept they were not entitled to a free prescription;
	(ii) If payment is not made within 14 days then a further letter is issued requiring payment of the health charge within 28 days to include a penalty charge of five times the health charge up to a maximum of £100;
	(iii) Where no response is received within 28 days a further letter is issued requiring payment to include the original health charge plus the penalty and a further surcharge of 50 per cent. of the penalty;
	(iv) People who still fail to respond are taken to the Small Claims Court.
	During the 2005-06 financial year, from the sample of claims examined by the Counter Fraud Unit, some 3,202 individuals who had claimed to be entitled to free prescriptions were subsequently found not to be so entitled. Restitution was made in all of these cases.
	The following payments were made by the individuals concerned:
	2,601 paid the relevant statutory prescription charge;
	405 paid the relevant statutory prescription charge and a fixed penalty charge;
	196 paid the relevant statutory prescription charge, a fixed penalty charge and a surcharge.
	During the same period, in addition to the above, 179 cases were referred through the Small Claims Court and the appropriate Court Decree obtained.
	As a result of these and other actions, the overall level of prescription exemption fraud in Northern Ireland has fallen from an estimated £14.7 million in 1999-2000 to £7.6 million in 2005-06. Over the same period, the estimated fraud rate has reduced from 8.14 per cent. to 4.63 per cent. While the level of fraud continues to fall it is still a significant loss, which we intend to further reduce. The introduction of a major IT system which will provide prescription information (including exemptions claimed by patients) in electronic format will assist in this task. The new system will enable greater levels of checking and action against those who claim but are not entitled to free prescriptions.

Road Safety

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road traffic accidents there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how many in each year involved drivers from outside the UK.

Paul Goggins: I have been advised by the PSNI that only figures in respect of injury collisions are recorded. Information regarding the number of such traffic collisions is set out in the following table.
	Figures for non injury collisions are not held. Current policy does not require police attendance at non injury or damage only collisions.
	The PSNI have also advised they are unable to provide figures for injury collisions involving drivers resident outside the UK but have provided figures for injury collisions involving a driver who is resident outside Northern Ireland.
	
		
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			  Injury road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland: 1996 to 2005 
			 Fatal collision 130 136 139 129 149 137 136 128 128 127 
			 Serious collision 1,155 1,137 1,107 1,085 1,275 1,241 1,105 964 895 835 
			 Slight collision 5,808 5,919 6,241 6,348 6,964 6,069 5,543 4,957 4,610 3,985 
			 Total 7,093 7,192 7,487 7,562 8,388 7,447 6,784 6,049 5,633 4,947 
			
			  Injury road traffic collisions involving a driver not resident in Northern Ireland: 2001 to 2005( 1) 
			 Fatal collision n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 9 12 7 11 9 
			 Serious collision n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 41 49 40 28 39 
			 Slight collision n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 192 221 153 175 132 
			 Total n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 242 282 200 214 180 
			 n/a — not available (1) 2001 is the first fall year where data is available for drivers who reside outside Northern Ireland  Note: 2006 statistics are unavailable at present as the figures are currently being collated.

Statutory Designated Sites

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the public service agreement target published by the Department of the Environment in 2003 to ensure 95 per cent. of features on statutory designated sites are in, or approaching, favourable conditions by 2013 still stands.

David Cairns: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to him on 27 November 2006,  Official Report, column 324W.

Valuation and Rating

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the presence of  (a) a wind turbine and  (b) solar panels on a domestic property will affect the assessment of its capital value by the Valuation and Land Agency for rates valuation purposes.

David Hanson: In Northern Ireland the presence of  (a) a wind turbine and  (b) solar panels has not had any effect on the assessed capital value of domestic properties for rating purposes in the recent revaluation.

Valuation and Rating

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in Northern Ireland have a personal financial liability for domestic rates (excluding those on 100 per cent. benefit) under  (a) the 2006-07 domestic rates system and  (b) the new 2007-08 domestic rates system.

David Hanson: The Rate Collection Agency (RCA) is currently implementing an IT replacement billing and revenue collection system. Implementation difficulties currently restrict full access to the information necessary to provide the information requested. An estimate (based on the actual figures just prior to go live in October 2006 and the total for 2005-06) is that 589,000 domestic properties has been assessed as liable for the payment of rates during 2006-07. This excludes those properties where the award of housing benefit covers full rate liability. Actual totals will be available at the end of the financial year.
	Liability to pay rates for 2007-08 will not be assessed until mid-March 2007. I have asked the Agency's chief executive to write to you with the detailed information when it becomes available.

Valuation and Rating

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Valuation and Land Agency's Automated Valuation Model uses Computer Mass Assisted Appraisal  (a) techniques and  (b) technology.

David Hanson: The Valuation and Lands Agency's Automated Valuation Models use Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal  (a) techniques and  (b) technology.

Wind Farms

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2006,  Official Report, column 205W, on wind farms, which businesses were successful in their applications; and where the planned locations are of the successful applications.

David Cairns: The wind farm businesses successful in their planning applications and their planned locations are described in the following table.
	
		
			  Company  Location 
			 WFD(1) Altahullion, County Londonderry 
			 WFD(1) Lough Hill, County Tyrone 
			 WFD(1,2) Callagheen, County Fermanagh 
			 Airtricity Tappaghan, County Fermanagh 
			 Airtricity Bessy Bell 2, County Tyrone 
			 WFD(1) Wolf Bog, Ballymena 
			 Owenreagh Power Partners Owenreagh 2, Strabane 
			 Airtricity Bin Mountain, Strabane 
			 WFD(1) Lough Hill, Qmagh 
			 WFD(1) Ext to Altahullion, Limavady 
			 Quinn Group Slieve Rushen, County Fermanagh 
			 (1) WFD = Wind Farm Developments Ltd. (formerly Known as B9 Energy Ltd.). (2 )Permission granted on appeal by the Planning Appeals Commission.